Ondo Monarchs Frown At Eze-Ndigbos In South West

The Council of Obas in Ondo state has condemned the installations of Eze Ndigbo across the South west region, describing the trend as an affront on the Yoruba traditional institution, Daily Post reports. 

A communiqué issued on Thursday, November 26, by the council in Akure, the Ondo state capital,  after its monthly meeting, further stated that having another king in an area where there was one already recoginsed was an attempt to embarrass Yoruba traditional rulers.

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The council also frowned at the use of titles such as Eze, Igwe, Obi or any other synonym as  unacceptable in the state, saying that the only chieftaincy title recognized was the one bestowed by the traditional ruler in the state on Igbo indigenes.

Part of the communique read: “The continued use of Eze Ndigbo chieftaincy title and flaunting of paraphernalia of Ndigbo traditional institution in Ondo State is a calculated attempt to embarrass the Yoruba traditional rulers,” the monarchs agreed.

 “It is also meant to desecrate the Yoruba traditional institution. It is also an affront on Ondo State traditional rulers. It is a way of arrogating to the Igbo leaders the traditional power and equating themselves to Yoruba Obas.

 

“It is an infraction of the penal law and indeed the Chiefs Law in Ondo State for any person to parade himself as either a minor chief or recognized chief without the requisite approval of the prescribed authority or the State Executive Council as the case may be.
“Whoever wants to be a traditional ruler among the Igbos or any other ethnic groups should go to his domain for such.”

Last month, the Afenifere Renewal Group had said the evolution of Igbo kings in Yorubaland is an expansionist agenda by the south easterners residing in the region.

The reactions of the groups  is as a result of a recent clash between youths in Ondo state and Igbos residing in the state over an alleged insult of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo.