The Igbos were the first the first to settle in Ile-Ife, widely accepted as the cradle of the Yoruba race, the Obi of Onitsha, HRM Igwe Alfred Achebe, said on Tuesday.

He made the claim while speaking at the First Chinua Achebe International Conference organised by the Institute of African Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

A report this morning inVanguardquoted the revered traditional ruler as saying that the Igbo society existed beyond what Chinua Achebe recorded in his books, disclosing that a recent history book has ascribed to the Igbo as the original settlers in Ile-Ife and whom Oduduwa met, other than the present contest between the Ife and the Ugbo sections in Yoruba land. Igwe Achebe, according to the report, tasked the academia in the University of Nigeria to conduct further research that would either authenticate or dismiss the new study on Igbo origin and settlement.

The event was chaired by one-time governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeke Ezeife, who that it is either Nigeria is restructured into six geopolitical zones or it goes into referendum to decide if the country will remain as one country or disintegrate.

Other persons who spoke at the conference included the former Governor of Imo state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim; former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Viola Onwuleri; veteran actor, Pete Edochie, among others.

Director of Institute of African Studies, Prof. Emeka Nwabueze, said the conference was a celebration to honour the sage, Chinua Achebe. He said the institute decided to host the conference since Achebe was a member of the university community.