KINGSLEY EBERE
The Apex Igbo traditional leader and Ezendigbo of Lagos State, Eze Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu, has warned the members of the public to beware of one Chief Gregory Iloerika, who is parading himself as Ezendigbo in Ondo State. Nwachukwu highlighted him as an impostor, who was deposed and disgraced as Eze Udo by the Deji of Akure for constituting nuisance in the State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Eze Nwachukwu, who is also known as Ochiagha in Obodoukwu town, Imo State, stated this on the heels of claim by Chief Gregory Iloerika recently that he is the Ezendigbo in Ondo State and described him as a dubious character, who left Lagos State to Akure to claim to be the Igbo traditional leader in Ondo State.
Nwachukwu stated that the authentic Ezendigbo of Ondo State, who is recognized by the Deji of Akure, is Asiwaju Ndigbo, Eze Dr Ezeorji T.C Umenwekwe.
He stated that Iloerika was given a chieftaincy title as Eze Udo by Late Eze Hyacinth Ohazuruike in Lagos State but he went to Akure and started parading himself as Ezendigbo before he was disgraced and deposed by Deji of Akure.
Nwachukwu explained that Iloerika was challenging the authority of the traditional institution and Deji of Akure over market matters and was invited to the Palace of Deji of Akure to know why he did so but he was unable to explain.
He was deposed, his cap was removed and was assaulted before he was sent away from the palace and Dr Umenwekwe became Ezendigbo and peace returned between the Igbo and the host community in the State.
He explained that Eze Umenwekwe became a member of Ndieze traditional rulers association in diaspora led then by Ezendigbo of Kano State, Eze Boniface Ibekwe
Nwachukwu further explained that on the inauguration of Eze Umenwekwe in Akure, Eze Ibekwe, Eze Omenife and himself with other Ezes went to Akure and they were still at the airport when a team of Police Officers accosted them and took them to the Area Commander, where they were told that Chief Iloerika wrote a petition against them coming to inaugurates Eze Umenwekwe as Ezendigbo in Akure.
He stated that Ndieze insisted that he cannot stop them from performing their traditional duties and the matter was taken to the Commissioner of Police, who agreed with Ndieze and gave the go ahead for the inauguration which was attended by the Deji of Akure himself.
Eze Nwachukwu said that it was necessary to let the members of the public to know that Chief Iloerika is not Ezendigbo of Ondo State to avoid being misled by his dubious antics and questionable character, which he had demonstrated over the years.
He stated that Iloerika is empty and does not have the capacity to come to Lagos to talk about Ezendigbo of Lagos State talkless of claiming and declaring that Eze Nwachukwu is not Ezendigbo of Lagos State.
Eze Nwachukwu explained that Eze Udo title is not Ezendigbo rather a Chief class created by late Ohazuruike as his cabinet members and as such they are not recognized as Ezendigbo as they have no voting rights during the Ezendigbo meetings.
He urged the real Ezes to continue to maintain peace and order in Lagos State as the era of crisis among Ndigbo should be a thing of the past for unity to thrive.