The feud between the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, and the leader of the Igbo community in the town, Mr. Gregory Iloehike, has taken another turn as the monarch has banned the title of ‘Eze Ndi Igbo‘ in Akureland.
The Deji also ordered the title to be reviewed and replaced with a non-controversial honorary tittle.
These were a few of the conditions given by the monarch to end the crisis and also to allow Igbo traders the freedom to continue operating their businesses in the community.
The traditional rulers dethroned the Igbo leader last week and stopped his followers from operating their business following an alleged rude behaviour by Iloehike to the Akure paramount ruler at the Deji’s palace during the Igbo leader’s meeting with Oba Aladelusi.
Oba Aladelusi had equally instructed that the dethroned Eze must apologise for his unruly behavior in at least three national dailies as well as go on air to tender an apology.
He was also ordered a letter of apology be written to the monarch and the Deji-in-Council.
Oba Adelusi also directed that the Igbo leader should stop wearing any form of crown and must comply with all the directives of the palace.
Based on what was gathered, the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, met with the two leaders separately on Tuesday evening at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, when he reportedly pleaded with the Akure traditional ruler to forgive the embattled Igbo leader.
At the meeting, it was learnt 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.
Mimiko, however, thanked the youths of the town, praising them for their maturity and peaceful disposition towards the matter.
The traditional ruler maintained that a truce could then be brokered once the conditions were met.
As a result of the crisis, all shops occupied by Igbo people at the Moferere Market, Akure, remained closed at of the time of filing this report.