From Shehu Momodu
The people of Imiakebu Autonomous Community in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State have rejected a recent communiqué issued from the palace of Mallam Ali Suleiman, the Ogieaga of Three Ibie Clan, describing it as “unauthorised, undemocratic, and alien to their heritage.”
The communiqué, issued after a meeting held on 18 October 2025, reportedly proposed the collapse of the existing Three Ibie Federated Clan structure, a change of name from Three Ibie to Ivie Clan, and other major reforms involving youth leadership, religious offices, community administration, and territorial adjustments.
But in a strongly worded counter-statement made available to journalists on 29 October 2025, the Imiakebu people, through Pastor Prince Ahmadu, Chief of Staff to HRH Musa Awoh Ahmadu, the Azamanodu III of Imiakebu Autonomous Village dismissed the communiqué as null and void, insisting they were neither consulted nor represented in the said meeting.
“Imiakebu was not invited, represented, or part of the meeting at the Ogieaga’s palace,” the statement read.
“We totally and publicly disassociate ourselves from any communiqué seeking to rename the Three Ibie Clan or alter its federated structure. Such a move is a direct threat to our collective identity and ancestral heritage.”
The statement further clarified that HRH Musa Awoh Ahmadu remains the only recognised village head of Imiakebu and possesses the sole authority to make appointments, including that of a community Imam. It described the proposed restructuring as an attempt to “impose a colonial-style administration” and “derail the long-standing rotational leadership arrangement” among the Three Ibie communities Imiakebu, Itsukwi, and Imiegba.
Rejecting the purported recognition of Mallam Ali Suleiman as Ogieaga of Ivie Clan, the communiqué asserted that such a title “does not exist within the extant traditional laws and customs of the Three Ibie Federation.”
“The people of Imiakebu will never recognise the title ‘Ogieaga of Ivie Clan.’ The Ogieaga remains the senior village head within the Three Ibie Federated Clan, not over it,” the statement stressed.
The community also condemned what it described as “territorial extension and annexation attempts,” warning that any forced expansion or redefinition of clan boundaries could destabilise the fragile peace in the area.
Calling on the Edo State Government, including Governor Monday Okpebholo, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the Etsako East Local Government Chairman, the Imiakebu people urged urgent intervention to prevent the dispute from escalating into conflict.
“Three Ibie is not just a name, it defines who we are as three distinct but united communities of the same ancestral origin,” the statement concluded.
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We are and will remain THREE IBIE. That’s our identity, our heritage and that’s who we should remain. We should not allow politicians introduce or impose an alien structures that will further divide us. We are THREE IBIE CLAN. God bless our land.