By George Ozalla
The Executive Governor of Anambra State Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo has called for lasting peace in Awka and a decisive end to the lingering traditional leadership crisis in the community, insisting that the rule of law and respect for zoning arrangements must prevail for the capital city to achieve its full potential.
Soludo spoke during a meeting with members of the Ozo Awka Society led by Ozo Sir Chukwujekwu Eze, where discussions centred on the future of Awka, ongoing development projects in the capital city and the unresolved dispute surrounding the Eze Uzu traditional stool.
The governor said Awka had suffered years of neglect despite serving as the capital of Anambra State, lamenting that for over three decades the city lacked basic symbols of a functional state capital, including a befitting Government House and clear developmental direction.
He stated during the parley that his administration had moved to reverse the trend through deliberate investments aimed at repositioning Awka into a modern and cosmopolitan city.
Soludo recalled that he had promised to live in Awka and had fulfilled that commitment with the completion of the new Government House complex known as the Light House.
He further stated that the facility, comprising 57 buildings, stands as a reflection of the state’s growth and ambition, adding that the Solution Fun City project was conceived to make Awka a destination city rather than a mere transit point.
The governor, however, noted that infrastructure alone would not transform Awka into a true modern capital, stressing that the people themselves must play active roles in rebuilding the city’s identity and future.
Speaking on the lingering Eze Uzu Awka crisis, Soludo said leadership sometimes demands confronting uncomfortable realities instead of ignoring them for convenience.
He disclosed that the Commission of Enquiry set up by the government established that Obi Gibson Nwosu was never legally dethroned, while Chief Austine Ndigwe was never lawfully enthroned as a traditional ruler.
According to him, the law does not recognise the existence of two traditional rulers in one community, warning that anyone parading himself contrary to the law risks imprisonment.
Soludo also maintained that the issue was not about personalities but about order, legality and respect for the zoning arrangement already contained in the community’s constitution, which he said indicates that it is the turn of Nkwelle to produce the next traditional ruler.
The governor told the Ozo Awka Society that they remain the conscience of the land and urged them to continue speaking truth in order to restore peace and unity in the community.
He recalled that his hometown, Isuofia, once experienced a prolonged traditional crisis that lasted about two decades before peace was eventually restored, expressing confidence that Awka could also overcome its present challenges.
Soludo further stated that plans should commence for the construction of a grand central palace for the Eze Uzu of Awka comparable to notable royal palaces in places such as Onitsha and Ile-Ife.
He assured the community of government support towards the project and expressed optimism that it could be completed within 12 months if stakeholders unite behind the vision.
On the forthcoming Imo Awka Festival, the governor acknowledged its importance to the people but explained that the proposed May 23, 2026 date would not be convenient because another major statewide event had already been fixed for the same day.
He said security arrangements could not be split between two major events and appealed to stakeholders to agree on a unified future date for the celebration.
Soludo maintained that while government would continue to provide law, order and support, only the people of Awka can sustain lasting peace in the community.
He said his administration remains focused on restoring the lost glory of Awka and transforming the state capital into a city its people would be proud of.
