AWKA (9News Nigeria) – Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo advocates for peace in Awka, the state capital, telling Ozo Dr Austin Ndigwe to acknowledge the official monarch.
Soludo while attending a birthday ceremony of Ozo Austin Ndigwe also known as Eze Uzu Awka said that there is a need for peace to reign in the Anambra State capital and that everyone including himself has a role to play. “I have a role to play, and you have a role to play,” Soludo said to Dr Austin Ndigwe.
Governor Soludo said that he has been a long-time friend of Ozo Austin Ndigwe, but that does not mean he won’t tell him the truth and do the right thing.
Governor Soludo said that as his name implies, he is always following the path of peace and will ensure that peace reigns in the ancient Igbo Kingdom of Awka which happens to be the Anambra state capital.
Soludo while speaking at the event said that it is worthy to note that the official traditional ruler certified and recognised by the Anambra State governor is Igwe Gibson Nwosu (the official Eze-Uzu Awka).
He therefore admonished Ozo Dr. Austine Ndigwe to embrace peace and acknowledge Igwe Gibson Nwosu as the reigning monarch of the Awka ancient kingdom.
Governor Soludo said that as long as the Anambra State government has issued a certificate of acknowledgement to Igwe Gibson Nwosu as the official monarch, it will be unlawful to allow any other person to parade himself as the Eze-Uzu or Igwe of Awka.
He added that he will work with Dr Austin Ndigwe to make sure that a lasting solution is established amid the rulership tussle that has caused disunity, insecurity and retrogressiveness in the kingdom.
Dr Austin Ndigwe’s birthday came weeks after it was alleged that he was planning to celebrate the traditional New Yam festival this month and failed to get approvals.
Last year, Dr Austin Ndigwe had made a similar attempt to celebrate the New Yam festival as the Monarch of the ancient town but was stopped by the state government with the use of a detachment of security operatives and his guests were locked up inside his compound that was sealed up by the police.
Following tensions that arose from such allegations, the officially recognised Monarch of Awka Kingdom Eze Gibson Nwosu had lodged a complaint before the state government, Anambra Traditional Rulers Council and the Police Command over the activities of the self-imposed Traditional Ruler Austin Ndigwe insisting that he remains the king of the town.
The state government also issued a statement warning Austin Ndigwe to desist from parading himself as the Eze Uzu of Awka. Those who attended the New Yam festival were locked inside his compound by the officers of the Nigerian police assigned to stop him.
9News Nigeria (Awka, Anambra State)
