Igbos In Akure, Ondo State, Close Down Their Businesses Following Plan By An Akure King To Dethrone Their Eze Ndigbo

This is in protest of the planned dethronement of their Eze- Ndigbo, Sir Gregory Iloehike by the Deji of Akure. They have locked their shops and withdrew their services from the markets.

They have warned the Deji of Akure against the move insisting that he has no power to dethrone Iloehike.

 

 Deji had accused the Eze Ndigbo of insubordination and disrespect. Iloehike, on his part, said he was not rude to the him, adding that he contributed immensely to the monarch’s installation. He said: “The Deji called me and I honored his invitation.

But when I got to the palace, I saw youths numbering over 200 who started shouting as I entered. I suspected that they were mobilized by the monarch and I showed respect to him by prostrating. He threatened to drive out the Igbo from Akure and when I asked why, the youth descended on me. They tore my beads and removed my crown.”

 Iloehike was installed in August 2011. DAILY POST gathered that trouble started between the Deji and Igbo residents, following the installation of an Igbo man as the chairman of one of the markets in Akure by the Eze-Ndigbo. Deji feel it’s a taboo for an Igbo man to rule over a market in Akure.

He then summoned Iloehike but that to his surprise, he wore his crown to the Deji’s palace, an action said to be against the tradition of Akure. Irked by his attitude and responses to allegations leveled against him, the Chiefs and some youths who were in the palace ordered him to remove his crown.

  

Deji of Akure was said to have suspended him from parading himself as Eze-Ndigbo. This made Igbo residents in the town to mobilize to the palace and order the Deji to reverse his earlier statement on Iloehike. But they were unlucky as Akure youths flogged them out of the palace and they ran with their legs touching their heads.