By Chimezie Anaso
The Commission of Inquiry instituted by Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to investigate the dispute around the Awka Stool has affirmed Igwe Gibson Nwosu as the valid Traditional Ruler of the town.
This is contained in the report of the Commission presented by the Committee to Soludo at the Government House, Awka on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Soludo on Feb. 25, inaugurated the five-member Commission of Inquiry to investigate the dispute on the traditional ruler stool of Awka.
The Commission was to ascertain whether Chief Gibson Nwosu, known as “Eze Uzu II” of Awka, was appropriately dethroned and also determine whether Chief Austin Ndigwe was duly selected and installed as the legitimate traditional ruler.
Justice Paul Obidigwe, the Chairman of the Commission, said the Commission looked at the remote causes of the dispute including the controversies surrounding “dust-to-dust” rite of Catholic burial which served as the basis for attempted dethronement of the traditional ruler in 2017.
According to the chairman, the purported removal of H.R.M. Obi Gibson Nwosu (Eze Uzu II) was unlawful, invalid, and lacked legal effect due to a lack of quorum, denial of fair hearing, and failure to comply with the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Law 2007.
“Chief Austin Ndigwe was never lawfully selected or installed as the traditional ruler of Awka and his claim to the throne is an “affront” to the state government as there was no vacancy in the stool,” he said.
The Commission recommended the formal reaffirmation of H.R.M. Obi Gibson Nwosu as the substantive Traditional Ruler of Awka and the deployment of government machinery to stop Ndigwe’s unlawful claims to the stool.
Accepting the report, Soludo thanked the Commission for their transparency and accountability, noting that their work was essential to achieving a livable and prosperous Anambra.
He said “Enough is enough” regarding the crisis rocking the traditional stool of Awka, the Anambra capital host community for over 10 years.
Soludo said that his government would study the report with keen interest and issue a White Paper while warning that his administration would no longer tolerate the existence of two traditional rulers in any community.
“Awka is not just another community; it is the capital of the state.
“The institution of the Eze Uzu must be revered, if the stool is in dispute, it diminishes the entire state.
“We must be a state of law and order, it is my duty to enforce the law.
“This is a message to other communities; always refer to the Anambra Traditional Rulers Law 2007.
“In this matter, there is no victor and no vanquished, but the triumph of the rule of law,” he warned,”.(NAN