…describes the prolonged Awka monarch dispute as unfortunate.
AWKA, Nigeria — The iNews Times reports that the Awka Ozo title holders have expressed support for the Anambra State Government’s panel on the Awka monarch dispute, declaring their readiness to align with the government once the official White Paper is released.
The group made its position known on Saturday during a meeting in Awka, where its President, Ozo James Chukwujekwu Eze, said the body acknowledges the authority of the state government in resolving the lingering Awka monarch dispute.
According to him, the Ozo society remains united and indivisible and cannot afford to operate at cross purposes with a constituted authority. He stated that while the panel has submitted its report, the group is awaiting the formal gazetting and issuance of the White Paper before making a full declaration of solidarity.
“As of now, we have not seen the White Paper on the issue. 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,” he said.
“It is not in our character to fight the government. When the White Paper is published, we will abide by it.”
Eze described the prolonged Awka monarch dispute as unfortunate, noting that what initially appeared trivial escalated into a significant community crisis. He stressed that the Ozo society, known for its peaceful disposition, remains committed to restoring stability and harmony within Awka.
The development follows weeks of sittings by the panel of inquiry set up by the administration of Chukwuma Soludo to investigate the Awka traditional stool dispute. The panel received 32 memoranda and heard 28 oral testimonies before submitting its findings to the governor.
Presenting the report, Chairman of the panel, retired Justice Paul Obidigwe, stated that Chief Gibson Nwosu was not lawfully dethroned. He maintained that there were no valid grounds for his removal and that he was denied a fair hearing, declaring the action unlawful, invalid and of no legal effect.
The panel further found that Chief Austin Ndigwe, a claimant to the stool, was not lawfully selected, describing his emergence as inconsistent with due process and statutory provisions.
Receiving the report, Governor Soludo said the Anambra State Government would carefully study the recommendations and issue a White Paper in due course. He recalled that the government had initially allowed the Awka community to resolve the dispute internally but stepped in after being formally invited to intervene.
The governor stressed the importance of law and order, stating clearly that no community in Anambra State would be allowed to operate with more than one traditional ruler. He added that in resolving the Awka monarch dispute, “there is no victor and no vanquished,” signalling a reconciliatory stance aimed at restoring unity.
With the Awka monarch dispute issue now awaiting the government’s White Paper, attention has shifted to the next phase of implementation. Observers believe the official publication will determine the direction of reconciliation efforts and reinforce the authority of due process in the state.
For now, the Ozo society’s position represents a significant endorsement of the government’s intervention in the Awka monarch dispute, even as the community waits for the final word from the state authorities.
