“The controversy erupted following an announcement by the Ogieaga of Three Ibies, Mallam Ali Suleiman, who unilaterally declared a name change from Three Ibies to the “Ibvie clan” and proposed a restructuring of the clan’s administrative framework. 

The move, which Suleiman claimed was discussed in a palace meeting to enhance governance, has been met with fierce opposition from Imiakebu leaders, who argue it undermines the rotational traditional headship and erodes the community’s autonomy.In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, HRH Musa Awoh Ahmadu, the Azamanodu III of Imiakebu, decried the lack of consultation and the imposition of alien titles and structures. 

“The title of Ogieaga of the three Ibies is rotational among Imiakebu, Itsukwi and Imiegba. Any attempt to alter this arrangement will derail our cultural heritage,” Ahmadu declared. 

“We will not recognise HRH Mallam Ali Suleiman as the Ogieaga of Ibvie clan, a title alien to our laws and traditions. This move is a prototype of colonial imposition.”

Ahmadu, speaking from his palace in Imiakebu, emphasized the village’s independent status as a self-governing entity with its own traditional ruler and council. 

He further rejected recent appointments made by Suleiman, including Mallam Braimah Inusa as Chief Imam of Imiakebu and Shadrach as the community’s youth leader, labeling them as unauthorized encroachments on local authority.

Defending his actions, Mallam Ali Suleiman insisted that the restructuring was purely administrative and not intended to disrupt the rotational system. 

“Restructuring the administration of the clan does not in anyway affect the status of the present occupant. Nobody is trying to change the rotational headship, but we are trying to restructure for better administration,” Suleiman told reporters. 

“We want to see how we can divide our community for better administration.”

The Three Ibies federated clan, comprising Imiakebu, Itsukwi, and Imiegba, has operated under a rotational leadership model for generations, a system deeply rooted in the Edo cultural ethos. 

This arrangement, elders say, fosters unity and equity among the communities. The proposed “emirate dynasty” label evokes northern Nigerian monarchical traditions, which some locals view as culturally incongruent and potentially divisive in the predominantly Benin-influenced Edo South-South region.

In a direct appeal to the state government, Ahmadu urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to intervene swiftly to preserve the peace and integrity of traditional institutions. 

“We call on the governor to wade into this matter before it degenerates into a crisis that could affect the harmony of our people,” he added.

As of Friday afternoon, the governor’s office had yet to respond to the plea, though sources within the Edo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs indicated that officials were monitoring the situation closely. 

Community leaders have warned that any attempt to enforce the changes could lead to protests and legal challenges, potentially escalating the dispute to the courts.