Soludo Warns Against Rascality Over Traditional Stool As Commission Submits Report On Awka
Gov. Chukwuma Soludo Soludo of Anambra has warned that his administration will no longer condone unnecessary disputes over traditional ruler stool in communities in the state.
Soludo said this while receiving the report of the Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate the dispute around the Awka Stool which affirmed Igwe Gibson Nwosu as the valid Traditional Ruler in Awka on Wednesday.
The Commission investigated whether Chief Gibson Nwosu was appropriately dethroned and also whether Chief Austin Ndigwe was duly selected and installed as the traditional ruler.
Soludo, who thanked the Commission for their transparency and accountability, said “enough is enough” regarding the Awka traditional stool which had lasted for about 10 years.
Soludo assured that his government would issue a White Paper and warned 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,” it said.
Justice Paul Obidigwe, the Chairman of the Commission said it looked at the controversies surrounding “dust-to-dust” rite of Catholic burial which served as the basis for attempted dethronement of the traditional ruler in 2017.
It said 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.
