Awka Chieftaincy Crisis worsens as Awka Community, ex-Traditional Prime Minister dare Obiano, affirm Otochal’Oka at General Assembly, insist Ezeuzu, Obi Gibso Nwosu is gone

www.odogwublog.com reports that there is confusion in Awka over who is who and who is holding what position.

Already, Anambra State government and some members of the Awka community are on a collision course following the presentation of the 116-year old Otochal’Oka, the oldest living man in the community, Ozo Nwibe Nwosu (Ozo Chibueze) to Izu Awka, otherwise known as Awka General Assembly for   affirmation, on Sunday (May 28, 2017).
The 116 year old Ozo Nwosu  was selected as the Ozo  Otochal’Oka few weeks ago  ahead of his younger contenders  aged 110 and 101 years respectively.
The presentation of Otochal’Oka which took place at his Nwoshishi Lane country-home, Umudioka, Awka the State capital, was attended by the former Deputy Governor of Anambra State,   Chief Abolle Okoyeagu, Chairman of Awka Council of Kingmakers, Head of Ozo Awka and other Ozo Awka title holders, President-General of Awka Development Union of Nigeria (ADUN), Mr. Amobi Nwokafor, former traditional Prime Minister of the town, Chief Hon. Austin Ndigwe (Ozo Gidigbam Gidigbam) and indigenes from the 33 villages that make up the town.
Izu-Awka, is the highest decision making organ of the community is open to only adult males community.
During the meeting, the members of the community were informed about the failure of the alleged dethroned traditional ruler to appear before the Council of Kingmakers to answer to 17 charges preferred against him for breach of the Traditional Rulers Amended Constitution, 1986, and Code of Conduct.

The traditional ruler has however denied committal of any of the allegations. Apart from the State government, under the watch of Governor Willie Obiano which has thrown its weight behind the purported deposed Monarch, a parallel Ozo group known as Ozo Ife led by Ozo James Eze who doubles as the Chairman of the parallel Awka Council of Kingmakers and a factional President-General of ADUN, Engr. Tony Okechukwu are also opposed to the said dethronement.

But the announced Regent of Awka, Ozo Obuora Essel, who is the Chairman of Awka Council of Kingmakers and Ozo Awka, said “the Izu Awka the meeting was a way of declaring the place of Otochal’Oka  open to every Aka citizen who wants to see him.
“Ezeuzu II is gone. He is being deserted. He was impeached in accordance with the Awka Traditional Rulers’ Amended constitution, 1986 and in violation of the Code of Conduct he signed.
Contributing, Chief Ozo Austin Ndigwe who served as a one-time Traditional Prime Minister to the embattled royal father said it is the responsibility of the people of Awka to enthrone and dethrone a Monarch if he violates the Constitution and Code of Conduct guiding the traditional institution.
He described as part of expressions of rascality, the tendency of Ozo James Eze who he said is number 11 on the list of Ozo Awka ranking  to purport the Headship of an Ozo group and Council of Kingmakers, adding that there is no controversy on the emergence of Ozo Nwibe Nwosu as the oldest living Awka man.
Ozo Ndigwe accused the dethroned royal father of threatening the members of the community through the instrumentality of the State power apparatus, in addition to constituting parallel Ozo group, Council of Kingmakers and ADUN, pointing out that the dethroned monarch had stopped parading himself as the Ezeuzu Awka as according to him, was witnessed at the last Imoka festival held in middle of May this year.
In his remark, the spokesman of the Otochal’Oka, Ozo Nwibe  Nwosu, Joseph Nwanneka Nwosu  expressed happiness that the Awka General Assembly  was hosted by his father, for the first time after his  installation as the oldest Awka man alive some weeks ago.
“By Awka tradition, he is the spiritual Head. He is like a King. In the primordial times, Awka had no king …it was government that introduced the traditional institution. Before then, the Otochal’Oka  regarded as the Head of Awka. What he says is final and binding.”
At the end of the four hours’ Izu Awka meeting, the attendants  affirmed major controversial and crucial issues including, the said dethronement of Obi, the Ezeuzu II, Obi Gibson Nwosu; presentation of the President-General of ADUN, Amobi Nwokeafor; the affirmation of application of due process in selecting a successor  to the said dethroned monarch from the eligible quarter and dismissal of parallel Ozo titled group called Ozo Ife (Ozo Ivbe) led by James Eze.
Before the ratification of the resolutions, the Secretary of Ozo Awka, Chief Aneze Chinwuba, Ozo Okpala reported to the members of the community that Ozo Obuora Essell, the Head of Ozo Aka who doubles as the Chairman of Awka Council of Kingmakers, had assumed office as the Awka Regent since the third week of April this year.

GREAT OSIBE