By George Ozalla
The Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate the dispute over the traditional stool of Awka has concluded its assignment and submitted its report to Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, affirming Chief Gibson Nwosu as the authentic traditional ruler.
The panel, which sat for several weeks, received thirty-two memoranda and heard twenty-eight oral testimonies before arriving at its findings.
Presenting the report on behalf of members of the commission, the Chairman, retired Justice Paul Obidigwe, held that Chief Nwosu was not lawfully dethroned, noting that there were no valid grounds for his removal and that he was denied fair hearing. He stated that the action taken against him did not comply with the law and is therefore unlawful, invalid, and of no legal effect.
The commission further found that Chief Austin Ndigwe was not properly selected, describing his emergence as a violation of due process and statutory provisions, and concluded that he is illegitimately occupying the position.
Justice Obidigwe described the situation as an affront to the state government and stressed the need to uphold established legal procedures in matters relating to traditional institutions.
Receiving the report, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo said the government would study its contents and issue a White Paper to determine the next line of action. He recalled that the state had earlier allowed the Awka community the opportunity to resolve the matter internally without success, adding that government intervention followed an invitation by stakeholders.
The governor maintained that Anambra must remain guided by law and order and reiterated that no community would be allowed to operate with more than one traditional ruler, while urging all parties to accept the outcome in the interest of peace, noting that there is no victor and no vanquished.
The dispute over the Awka traditional stool had lingered following divisions within the community over the removal of Chief Gibson Nwosu and the emergence of Chief Austin Ndigwe, a development that created parallel claims to the throne and prompted the state government to step in through a commission of inquiry to determine the legality of the actions taken.
