Why Deji Of Akure Removed Me As Ezendigbo Of Ondo State – Chief Gregory Iloerika Laments

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the embattled Chief Iloerika stated this after Ezendigbo of Lagos State, Eze Christian Nwachukwu, exposed him by informing members of the public that Chief Iloerika was no longer the Ezendigbo but Eze Udo (Chief) and public should be aware of his real status.

Chief Iloerika recalled in a publication, the ugly incident that made him to fall  from grace to grass and blamed the whole thing on Deji of Akure, which Eze Nwachukwu has now exposed to the public.

He stated: ”On 10th August, 2011, I contested and won Orji T C Umenwekwe for Eze Ndigbo title in Akure after obtaining a N500,000 form and was inaugurated by the Igbo Community residents in Akure and recognized by the Deji of Akure”.

”I equally contested and won Eze Udo, Eze Okoye Ichie for the Ondo State town Eze Ndigbo title and was inaugurated by the late Eze Hyacinth Ohazuruike (Mkpume).”

“It is on record that Orji T C Umenwekwe contested with me for the Eze Ndigbo title in Akure and I defeated him and was crowned Eze Ndigbo in Akure town.”

However, Chief Iloerika was deposed for constituting nuisance in Ondo State as confirmed by Eze Nwachukwu and he lost both the Ezendigbo and Eze Udo titles in Ondo State.

He explained that his woes started on the issues between Ndigbo in Akure ,Ondo State and Deji of Akure. Eze Iloerika revealed how his rejection to be installed Asiwaju Ndigbo in Akure, contrary to Igbo culture and traditions angered the Deji of Akure, who had earlier allegedly instigated his thugs to attack and wound an Igbo son from Enugu State, called Mr. Onovo, for refusing his apprentice to pay an obnoxious N20,000 market levy at Ilesa garage.

Narrating what transpired between him and Deji of Akure, he said, ”I was out of town as I led an Igbo burial delegation to Ebonyi State when I was alerted that some thugs invaded Mr. Onovo’s shop and beat him to coma. As the (then) Eze Ndigbo in Ondo, who swore to our constitution to defend every Igbo son and daughter, I directed the Igbo people in Akure to rise up to the occasion, defend and rescue their brother before thugs will kill him”.

“This action did not go down well with the Deji of Akure, who seeing that the Police that they instigated to arrest the apprentice boy, had released Mr. Onovo’s apprentice for lack of any culpable offense”.

“On my return to Ondo State, the Deji of Akure invited me to his Palace for a discussion but regrettably and unknown to me, Deji stooped so low and organized some thugs to waylay and attack me.”

“In the course of the crisis, Deji of Akure contrary to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, unlawfully declared that he has unilaterally banned Eze Ndigbo title in Ondo and requested me and the Igbo residents to change our cultural Eze Ndigbo Title to Yoruba Asiwaju Ndigbo, which the entire Igbo Community vehemently rejected.“

“It was after I rejected Deji of Akure’s request that I should jettison Eze Ndigbo title and answer Asiwaju Ndigbo, that he asked Orji T.C Umenwekwe, who I had defeated in an Eze Ndigbo Election in Ondo State, to be installed Asiwaju and traditional leader of Ndigbo (Ezendigbo) in Ondo State, recognized by Deji and Ondo State Government.”

Chief Iloerika stated that the Deji of Akure breached the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because he had no power to depose him as Ezendigbo in Ondo State even though he admitted that Deji is the custodian of culture and tradition in Ondo State. Chief  Iloerika denied ever challenging the authority of Deji of Akure and his traditional institution, despite the fact that Deji deposed him which was not acceptable to some of Ndigbo in Ondo State.

Chief Iloerika explained that Eze Umenwekwe was suspended by his own faction of Ndigbo in Akure. However, the suspension had no effect because the Government and Deji of Akure recognized Umenwekwe as the traditional leader of Ndigbo in Ondo State.