Eze Ndigbo and desecration of Igbo culture

THE altercation between the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi and the leader of the Igbo community in the town, Mr. Gregory Iloehike, who doubles as Eze Ndi Igbo Akure, has in no small way brought ridicule and opprobrium to Igbo culture and tradition. Though, the Deji is reported to have pardoned Iloehike, the damage has already been done.

The Igbo have been made a laughing stock by the indiscretion of a few Igbo elements. The impression being created is that there are no established traditional procedures for becoming Eze in Igbo land; any individual who fancies the Eze title anywhere in the world could muster the forces around him to crown himself Eze contrary to the established norm. This is totally embarrassing and unacceptable.

As far as I know, only the late Ikemba Nnewi, Gen. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, was the only man crowned Eze Igbo Gburugburu because of his historic role in Igbo land. Otherwise, traditional rulers in Igbo land assume Eze of the specific autonomous community they govern. For example, we have Obi of Onitsha and not Obi of Igbo land. Therefore, the title Eze Ndi Igbo in Diaspora is alien to Igbo culture. It is banned and not recognized in Igbo land.

People are wondering what sort of culture the Igbo have that allows any Igbo man to become monarch in Diaspora with commanding influence that sometimes supersedes that of the holders of the real title in the homeland? Questions are being asked as to when this aberration started, who started it, where and why. Our people say Aru gba afo ozama ome n’la (meaning when an absurdity is allowed to fester for a year, it becomes a norm).

While it seems that the Deji of Akure is the first monarch in Yoruba land to react to a burgeoning cultural pervasion that is not in tandem with established Yoruba culture and tradition, the truth is that the purveyors of this strange Igbo culture are not found only in Yoruba land. They are found all over the world – across the neighbouring Republic of Benin, Togo, Ghana and other countries in West Africa.

The other day, I was shocked to hear of Eze Ndi Igbo in far away Bangkok in Thailand. And the same in China. As Igbo people are migratory birds, anywhere they find themselves in reasonable number, one person will rise up to get himself crowned as Eze Ndi Igbo of the particular place.

From that angle, there is no expansionist intent in Eze Ndi Igbo in Yoruba land as being alleged by the Afenifere Renewal Group. Otherwise, does it mean that the Igbo want to conquer the whole world since Eze Ndi Igbo is found worldwide?

In the case of Akure, unconfirmed reports say trouble started when an Igbo was made the chairman of a market in Akure. The people saw it as a taboo for an Igbo man to be installed ruler over a market in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Consequently, the Deji of Akure summoned the Igbo leader, Iloehike to his palace. On going to the Deji’s palace, Mr. Iloehike reportedly wore his paraphernalia as Eze Ndi Igbo. This infuriated the Deji who felt that it was against the Akure tradition for him to do that. The youths and chiefs present at the palace were also angry with Iloehike and therefore ordered him to remove his crown. The Deji suspended Iloehike as Eze Ndi Igbo.

When the Igbo residents heard about what happened at the palace, especially, about Iloehike’s suspension, trouble sparked off. They resolved not to open their shops for business in protest against Iloehike’s suspension and the order they gave to the monarch to recant the suspension which proved abortive. They warned the Deji against his plan to dethrone the Eze Ndi Igbo, insisting that he had no power to dethrone Iloehike. But the Deji went ahead to ban the “Eze Ndi Igbo” title in Akure land. He ordered that the title should be reviewed and replaced with a non-controversial honorary title.

And to end the crisis for Igbo traders to be free to continue with their businesses, the monarch gave some stringent conditions: One, the dethroned Eze Ndi Igbo must apologise for his unruly behaviour in at least three national dailies as well as go on air to tender apology. Two, Mr. Iloehike must write a letter of apology to the monarch and the Deji-in-Council. Three, the Igbo leader should stop wearing any form of crown and must comply with all the directives of the palace.

However, the embattled Iloehike explained  that he was not rude to the Deji of Akure since he ascended the throne about six months ago, adding that he contributed immensely towards the installation of the monarch. He said that the monarch threatened to drive all the Igbos out of Akure. He said when he asked why the youths descended on him, tore his beads and removed his crown.

Reports say the State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, in an attempt to broker peace met with the two leaders separately in his office and pleaded with the Akure monarch to forgive the Igbo leader. It was also gathered that the Governor maintained that the Igbo leader could not go against the tradition and custom of the land as there was no basis or constitutional backing for such attitude.

A prominent Yoruba chieftain, Senator Femi Okurounmu said if the Igbo want the Eze Ndi Igbo title to be recognized in Yoruba land, they must also recognise the Oba title in the South-East. I am afraid this can’t be possible because sometime in 2009 or thereabout, the chairman of South East Council of Traditional Rulers and Obi of Obinugwu Autonomous Community in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, HRH Eze (Dr.) Cletus Ilomuanya, called for the abolition of the office of Eze Ndi Igbo worldwide, in every community where it exists. The South-East monarchs sent a delegation to the authorities in the South-West to present their position.

The Afenifere Renewal Group commended the Deji for banning Eze Ndi Igbo title in Akure. They said the Igbo communities in Yoruba land don’t need to have another king in the same domain.

The Ohaneze Ndi Igbo has made it clear that Igbo leaders in Yoruba land or elsewhere should not assume the title Eze Ndi Igbo. Instead, they should be called Onye Ndu Ndi Igbo (meaning leader of the Igbo). This counsel should be heeded to avoid plunging Igbo people into another avoidable ethnic crisis with their hosts. The authorities should meet to resolve this matter once and for all before it gets out of hand. A word is enough for the wise.