Awka Traditional Ruler Stool: We Will Align With Anambra Gov’t —Ozo Society
The Awka Ozo society says it will support the position of Anambra government in the dispute between Igwe Gibson Nwosu and the Chief Austin Ndigwe on the traditional ruler stool of Awka.
Chief James Chukwujekwu Eze, the current president of Ozo Awka society disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Saturday.
He said the group was awaiting the release of the government’s White Paper on the Commission of Inquiry in the dispute which submitted its report recently.
He said the Ozo society could not afford to work at cross purposes with constituted authority and that their position would become clearer when they must have received the white paper and studied it
“We will align fully with the government once the White Paper on the Awka monarch issue is released.
“As of now, we have not seen the White Paper on the matter.
“When a panel submits its report, the government is expected to gazette it and issue a White Paper accordingly, once that is done, we will definitely align with the government.
” It is not in our character to fight the government. When the White Paper is published, we will abide by it,” he said.
Eze described the prolonged dispute over the Awka stool as unfortunate, noting that what began as a child’s play had escalated into a major conflict.
He assured that the Ozo society, as a peaceful organisation, would continue to work towards restoring peace in the community.
Recall that the Commission of Inquiry which submitted its report on March 18 affirmed Igwe Gibson Nwosu as the valid Traditional Ruler of the town.
The five-member Commission of Inquiry was set up 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.
Presenting the report, the Chairman of the panel, retired Justice Paul Obidigwe, said Igwe Gibson Nwosu was not lawfully dethroned, because there were no valid grounds for his removal.
He said Nwosu was denied a fair hearing and that the action unlawful, invalid and of no legal effect.
The panel also found that Chief Austin Ndigwe, a claimant to the stool, was not lawfully selected, describing his emergence as a violation of due process and statutory provisions.
