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Afenifere chieftain, Senator Femi Okurounmu, says if the Igbo want the Eze Ndigbo title to be recognised in Yoruba land, they must also recognise the Oba title in the South-East.
Okurounmu said this during an interview with our correspondent on Thursday while reacting to the ban on the Eze Ndigbo title by the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi.
The Akure monarch ordered the title to be reviewed and replaced with a non-controversial honorary one.
This is one of the conditions given by the monarch to end the crisis between him and the leader of the Igbo community in the town, Mr. Gregory Iloehike.
Subsequently, there have been calls by several Yoruba groups for the total ban of the Eze Ndigbo title in the entire South-West.
However, Okurounmu said the Yoruba would have no problem with the Igbo title as long as Yoruba titles were recognised in the South-East.
He said, “In all things, there must be reciprocity. If the Yoruba are allowed to have obas in Igbo land, then it will be in order for the Igbo to have ezes in Yoruba land. On the other hand, if Yoruba communities in Igbo land cannot have obas, then it will not be fair for the Igbo in Yoruba land to have ezes.”
In a separate statement, the Afenifere Renewal Group commended the Deji of Akure for banning the title of ‘Eze Ndi Igbo’ in Akure.
Commending the Akure monarch for his decision on Thursday, the ARG described him as a noble and wise king.
The ARG, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, said, “We want to say that this act will go down in the history of the Yoruba nation and among other nationalities as noble and needful.
“Contrary to what many, particularly the mischief makers, have been saying, this move has the potential to strengthen inter-ethnic relationship as it eliminates the friction points amongst nationalities, be it in Yoruba land or elsewhere.
“There is no gainsaying that the structure of the Eze Ndigbo outside Igbo land is deployed towards an expansionist end, with possible occupational intent.
“It is our conviction that the Igbo community in Yoruba land does not need to have a king, since by the Yoruba custom, two kings cannot coexist in a domain.”
The ARG said the Yoruba people were the most tolerant in Nigeria which was often taken for granted by other tribes.
The group encouraged Igbo trade associations and development unions to continue to carry out their activities.
It, however, urged all monarchs and governors in the South-West not to recognise the Ndigbo title as it was at variance with Yoruba customs.
“We therefore want to reiterate our proposition to the heads of executive governments in Yoruba land and other traditional rulers that the title of Eze Ndigbo, or any other monarchical title that is alien to Yoruba customs, be scrapped in all South-West states,” the statement added.
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