… Warns of potential violence arising from overlapped and competing cultural event schedules
… Attributes clash to the persistent kingship tussle in Awka
… Says that security agencies are on alert to deal with any disturbance to public peace
By Chudi Okoye and Kenechukwu Chukwudi, Awka Times Guest Reporter
The government of Anambra State has warned of an impending security breach in the state capital, Awka. A public service announcement that materialized on Dec 23, 2019, seemingly issued by the state government, warned of “danger and serious threat to the security of lives and property in the State Capital, Awka.” The statement claimed that this threat is “occasioned by an apparent tussle over the kingship of Awka town.”
The warning by the state government apparently originated from the office of Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Solo Chukwulobelu. The strongly-worded statement intimated a likely overheating of the Awka polity arising from a potential collision of imminent festivals in the town. The proposed festivals include an Egwu Uzu (Ofala) festival planned by the incumbent traditional ruler of Awka, His Majesty, Eze Uzu II, Obi Gibson Nwosu, and another event billed as a celebration of Otochal Awka Day, planned by Chief Austin Ndigwe, popularly known as Uzu Awka. Chief Ndigwe also claims the title of “His Imperial Majesty, Eze Uzu III, Obi of Awka.” Both of these events have been scheduled to take place on the same day, Saturday December 28, 2019.
▲HM Eze Uzu II, Obi of Awka Gibson Nwosu
The statement from the SSG claimed that this converged billing “is now reportedly set to climax in unprecedented violence…” The statement also claimed that the kingship tussle in Awka is linked to the recent upsurge in cult-related violence in the state capital. According to the government, “the undercurrents of this tussle had manifested in several negative manners over the last few months and is reasonably suspected to be one of the factors behind the incessant cult clashes and killings in the town.” It will be recalled that the head of Awka Vigilante Service, Christopher Nzekwe (popularly known as Ezeoke) was recently killed, along with two others, in what was suspected to be gang-related reprisals.
The SSG’s statement noted that the kingship tussle in Awka has torn the town apart, dividing “critical stakeholders [including] traditional title holders, youth groups and other indigenous organizations,” and has created opposing camps which it said are on “war paths… and [are] set to clash on the appointed date [December 28].”
It is unclear what constituted the source of the government’s intelligence on the matter, but the SSG’s statement claimed “that the attempt to fix a parallel Ofala or other event on the date of the Ofala festival of the Eze Uzu Awka is a clear and deliberate attempt by Chief Austin Ndigwe to undermine the Awka traditional institution and create security instability in the town…” The statement warned that this purported provocation “will NOT be tolerated by Government,” and that “security agencies in the State have been notified on the above position and empowered to deal decisively with anyone engaging in acts that threaten the peace and security of the state capital.”
The statement from the SSG also reiterated government support for the incumbent traditional ruler of Awka, Obi Gibson Nwosu, saying that he is “the authentic traditional ruler… who was crowned and subsequently recognized with a certificate to that effect presented to him on April 27, 1999…, in line with the Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Act.” The statement asserted that Chief Austin Ndigwe “is NOT known to Anambra State government in any capacity whatsoever associated with the kingship of Awka town.”
Apparently for this reason, the SSG’s statement insisted that Obi Gibson Nwosu “is the only person empowered by extant laws as well as the ancient traditions of Igbo land and Awka kingdom to hold, authorize or supervise the performance of traditional rites in his personal capacity or on behalf of the town, including the performance of the annual Ofala festival.” It said that Gibson Nwosu “has the full and unflinching support of the Anambra State Government to celebrate the annual Ofala festival as scheduled for 28th December 2019 in recognition of the respect deserving of traditional rulers in the State.” It also asserted that Chief Austin Ndigwe has no rights to perform “any traditional rites on behalf of Awka town or in his personal capacity attempt to undermine… the performance of such rites,” although the legal provenance for such a sweeping assertion is unclear.
▲Chief Austin Ndigwe, who asserts a claim as Eze Uzu III, Obi of Awka
Reacting to the statement when contacted by Awka Times, the “unofficial” traditional prime minister in the camp of Chief Austin Ndigwe, Dr. Anaeze Chinwuba, denied that any individual or group in Awka community is to his knowledge planning any disturbance or violence on the said date. He insisted that what is being planned is merely a storied cultural celebration. He questioned the right of the Anambra State government to dictate the nature and cadence of traditional celebrations in Awka. He also questioned the basis for the government to threaten citizen rights of free association and free assembly which he said are guaranteed in the Nigerian constitution.
Dr Chinwuba pointed out that Gibson Nwosu had signaled that his Egwu Uzu festival would take place on the 30th day of December in keeping with previous years. He alleged however that the Eze Uzu was advised by so-called mischief makers to shift the date to 28th December, the same date as the proposed Otochal Awka Day celebration, presumably to scuttle the latter. It is possible, however, that the change of the Egwu Uzu date from 30th December to 28th December was simply to move it from a weekday (Monday) to a weekend (Saturday).
Dr. Chinwuba also alleged that the opposing camp had attempted to use court processes and police order to stop the celebration of the Otochal Awka Day. But he said that this proved unsuccessful because the authorities considered that the two events are dissimilar and are also fixed at different venues. He dismissed the SSG’s statement as yet another desperate attempt to achieve the same goal, and insisted that the Otochal Awka Day celebration will proceed as planned.
Commenting on the development, Eze Uzu Gibson Nwosu told Awka Times that the scheduling of the Otochal Awka Day – a peculiar event in Awka cultural calendar – on the same date as his Egwu Uzu smacked of deliberate provocation. “What they want is confrontation, they are looking for confrontation now,” he mused, further stating: “They have tried everything, everything possible under court, false allegations, blackmail, it didn’t work.”
Eze Uzu Gibson Nwosu said that the SSG’s statement showed that “government is still government, [that] government is in charge,” and that “the government is doing what [it is] supposed to do.” He argued that “the government… is responsible for whatever is happening in this state. So if the government has said something, only a mad person will take it lightly.” He also noted that the government’s stand on the Awka kingship issue has not changed, pointing out that the SSG’s statement merely reconfirmed the official position in order to dispel any ambiguity and to maintain peace, especially in the volatile period of Christmas celebrations.
It will be recalled that for about two years Chief Austin Ndigwe has maintained a claim as the traditional ruler of Awka following the purported dethronement of Obi Gibson Nwosu in April 2017. Ndigwe’s insurgent claim, its lack of recognition by the administration of Governor Willie Obiano, and the persistence of Eze Uzu Gibson Nwosu’s incumbency, have all worked to create a corrosive instability in Awka polity. All efforts so far to resolve the crisis have failed, due in part to the complexity of the issues and the array of opposing forces.
Meanwhile, in an enactment of the traditional Yuletide gifting, Chief Austin Ndigwe (acknowledged by some Awka indigenes as the de facto, if not the de jure, Eze Uzu III), celebrated the season in his compound in Awka on December 24th, distributing bags of rice, bales of cloth and money to a parade of Awka indigenes and non-indigenes. Awka Times reporter, Nedu Offodile, learned that this was in keeping with past practice and was aimed at helping to alleviate the pressures on the poorest and most vulnerable members of Awka society.
▲Bags of rice stacked for distribution to Awka residents at Ndigwe’s compound
▲Some Awka residents assembled at Ndigwe’s digs for Xmas gifts
At the gifting event, Chief Ndigwe thanked the Awka people and non-indigenes for the show of love towards him since his purported accession to the Awka Stool. Chief Ndigwe’s family and several Awka title holders in his “cabinet” were on hand to assist with the distribution of gifts. Observers at the event told Awka Times that the yearning of the recipients was palpable, and that they seemed grateful for the assistance at a most anxious time of the year.
