Awka Town Celebrates 3rd Annual Otochal Awka Day

…Event peacefully and successfully conducted despite initial security warning

…Men, women, masquerades from all 33 villages of Awka pay homage

…Several traditional rulers grace event

…Prince Arthur Eze donates ₦20 million to Awka

By Ndu Chris Nwannah, Awka Times guest writer with Ian Koloson Nwiyi and Stella Nzekwe, Awka Times reporters

Awka, the capital city of Anambra State was buzzing with celebrations on Saturday December 28, 2019, as the ancient smith town hosted the third edition of the annual Otochal Awka Day celebrations.

The event which held at Ndichie Square, Umudioka Village in Ezi-Awka was graced by elders, men, women and youths from the 33 villages of Awka.

Otochal Awka Day celebration was first held in 2017 to honour the oldest man in the community. It was initiated by Chief Austin Ndigwe, who stakes an insurgent claim as the traditional ruler of Awka with the title of Eze Uzu III, and Dr Amobi Nwokafor, a claimant to the contested title of President General of Awka Development Union Nigeria (ADUN).

▲ Honoree, the Otochal of Awka, Ozo Nwibe Nwosu, aged 119, at the event

Members of Ozo Awka society, a traditional chieftaincy institution which backs Chief Ndigwe in the ongoing monarchic intrigue in Awka, were in full attendance, as were other titled men and dignitaries from Awka and beyond.

Dignitaries and government officials that graced the occasion included Prince Arthur Eze from Ukpo (Ozo Igbo Ndu), Igwe Dr. Kelly Nzekwe from Igbariam (Igwe Okalakwu), Igwe Eribe Agwu Agwu from Alor, Igwe Peter Nwokike Anugwu from Mbaukwu (Eze Amuso), former deputy speaker Anambra State House of Assembly Hayford Oseke, Brigadier General Ralph Chinedu Nnebuife represented by his younger brother Major Francis Emeka Nnebuife, Professor Sunny Nwankwo (Provost Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna), Hon. Ossy Egwuatu (former member House of Representatives), DIG Celestine Okoye (Uzuakpundu na Awka), and Mrs Mma Gladys Okafor (Deputy Controller Nigerian Correctional Service, Lagos Command).

▲ Chief Austin Ndigwe, convener of the Otochal Awka Day event

▲ Chief Austin Ndigwe arriving at event with Igwe Kelly Nzekwe of Igariam 

▲ Prince Arthur Eze donated donated ₦20 million to Awka at the event

There was heavy presence of security operatives stretching from Zik Avenue by Awka Post Office through Ichide Street and other adjoining roads leading all the way to the heavily guarded venue. The heightened security presence was likely a result of official sensitivity about plans for the Otochal Awka Day event. Prior to the event, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, had issued a widely-circulated statement characterizing the proposed event as an attempt to cause anarchy in Awka, and warned against any breach of the peace. The statement went further to align with the competing Egwu Uzu event being planned for the same day by the officially-certified monarch, Eze Uzu II Obi Gibson Nwosu, insisting that Chief Austin Ndigwe was not known to the government.

However, the Awka Council of Kingmakers which is responsible for the selection of the Awka traditional ruler and which appears to be behind Chief Ndigwe issued an immediate rejoinder to defend the event and counter the position of the state government. It claimed that Eze Uzu II had been removed as the traditional ruler of Awka following due constitutional guidelines, and that in his place Eze Uzu III was capped, again following due constitutional process. The rejoinder also insisted that the planned event would proceed as it did not in any way constitute a threat to public peace.

As for the overlapped scheduling with the competing Egwu Uzu event, Ozo Dr. Anaeze Chinwuba, the putative traditional prime minister in Chief Austin Ndigwe’s faction, told Awka Times that the choice of event date was “not political” but simply because the birthday of the honoree, Otochal Nwibe Nwosu, falls on December 28^th. He implied that the provocative cross-scheduling came from Eze Uzu Gibson Nwosu who, he said, usually performed his Egwu Uzu on December 30^th but chose this year to change to the 28^th. This was probably because December 30^th, 2019 fell on a weekday. Still, Ozo Chinwuba argued, Eze Uzu II could have chosen any other day but the birthday of the Otochal Awka on which the Otochal Day celebration had been held in the previous two years.

▲ Ozo Dr Aneze Chinwuba addressing the crowd 

The Otochal Awka Day celebration took on added significance this year, according to the organizers, because it was saluting the unique salience of the honoree, Ozo Nwibe Nwosu, who in addition to being the oldest man in Awka simultaneously became the Chairman of Awka Council of Kingmakers and the President of Ozo Awka society. This is an unusual convergence of titles in Awka history, implying that he occupies a unique position in Awka governance hierarchy. This was the reason for the special honour, said the event organizers, who consider the honoree a great blessing to Awka community.

The Otochal Awka event went off to a momentous start even though it competed for acclaim with the parallel Egwu Uzu event which held barely one mile away at the Awka Civic Centre within the old Awka stadium. The Otochal event started in earnest with the traditional breaking of kolanut and blessings by Otochal, amidst cheers from the assembled indigenes and guests. The programme witnessed the grand entrance of Chief Austin Ndigwe and his wife who rode into the arena through the adjoining streets on a horse-drawn carriage, complete with uniformed footmen and a coachman, lined up behind a hired limousine conveying his children. It was an unusual spectacle in Awka. Meanwhile the honoree himself, the 119-year old wheelchair-bound Otochal, was rolled in with as much dignity as could be mustered.

▲ Horse-drawn carriage conveying Chief Austin Ndigwe to event

▲ Chief Austin Ndigwe and his wife readied for the event

▲ Chief Austin Ndigwe 

Dressed in a simple white tunic but with recherché shoes, hat, staff and shoulder coat all made from or wrapped with aggressive lion skin, Chief Ndigwe seemed bedecked for a grand presentation. Seemingly at ease, he sashayed his way to the regnant canopy which was also aggressively decorated, featuring a formidable skull-like sculpture that was prominently displayed. In his address to the gathering, Chief Ndigwe said that he was grateful to Awka people for coming out enmasse to support the event. He noted that the huge turnout, apart from celebrating the Otochal Awka, was an indication of popular support for his claim to the Awka Stool and a mark of confidence in him. In an evident swipe at the official monarch of Awka, Chief Ndigwe said that kings derive their legitimacy from the people rather than through certification by government. The jibe drew a thunderous ovation. Nevertheless, Awka Traditional Ruler Constitution seems to insist that the town’s monarch, once selected by the community, must be certified by the state government in order to have legal legitimacy.

Chief Austin Ndigwe told the crowd that he hoped to use what he called his new position to help salvage Awka town. He said in particular that Awka infrastructural crisis would be tackled, that he would use his position to attract jobs, secure scholarship awards and provide welfare to the less privileged. (A cabinet chief from Amudo village, Obi Muogbo had told Awka Times in an interview that Chief Ndigwe helped to secure lecturing appointments at Nnamdi Azikiwe University for two Amudo sons.)

Ndigwe advised the state government not to meddle in the affairs of Awka but to find ways to solve the problems facing the city. Chief Ndigwe also placed part of the blame for Awka political crisis on some religious groups seeking to impose their rites on Awka tradition, thereby driving a wedge among Awka people. He urged Awka people to come together and not allow themselves to be torn apart or forsake their tradition because of religion.

Acting in his purported capacity as a de facto monarch, Chief Ndigwe used the occasion to confer awards on several illustrious citizens of Awka. Among the recipients were the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Celestine Okoye, who was decorated as ‘Ochiagha Awka’ (i.e. War Commander); the Provost of Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, Professor Sonny Nwankwo who was given the title of ‘Okammuta’; Eminent Scholar and Honourable Ossy Egwuatu, who got the title of ‘Agada Gbachil Uzo Awka’.

Other awardees were Chief Chike Obuekwe, Professor Okey Mbonu (‘Ozora Ndu’), Deputy Controller of Prisons DCP Mmaegbunam Okafor ‘Ada Amikwo’ and Lieutenant General Chikadibia Obiakor, a retired officer of the Nigerian Army.

One of the dignitaries who attended the event, Prince Arthur Eze, described Chief Ndigwe as a fearless and loyal person who was willing to offer service to his people. Arthur Eze expressed delight over efforts made by Ndigwe to bring Awka people together through the Otochal Awka Day and congratulated him for offering, as he put it, servant leadership to the people of Awka. Prince Arthur Eze later donated the sum of ₦20 million to the Awka gathering to promote development in the area.

Emeritus Professor of Surgery at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus Okey Mbonu, who was also honoured, spoke glowingly about the event. Professor Mbonu was happy that a day was set aside to celebrate the Otochal Awka  whom he described as a blessing to the people. He praised the organizers for embarking on such a project to unite Awka people.

The Secretary of Awka Council of Kingmakers, Barrister E.C.G. Okechukwu, in a speech drew a distinction between Otochal Awka Day and Egwu Uzu, judging the former to be more important. According to him this was because Otochal Awka had been with the people from time immemorial as the Supreme Head of Awka, as opposed to the Eze Uzu position which he noted was a new concept in Awka cultural milieu. He decried the involvement of Anambra State Government in Awka issues without taking practical steps to resolve the impasse. Barrister Okechukwu explained that the Otochal Awka Day event held a unique cultural value for Awka as Otochal Awka blesses the people with an account of stewardship.

In his own speech Dr Amobi Nwokafor, one of the claimants to the title of ADUN President-General, said that he was happy the event saw the light of day during his purported tenure. He said that it was important to honour the elderly, and that this informed the decision to introduce the event. Rather controversially, Nwokafor claimed that the Otochal Awka Day celebration also embodied elements of Egwu Uzu festival being organized by the Eze Uzu Awka. He also charged the state authorities to always take a critical look at the situation in Awka before taking decisions. The Ozo title holder and chartered accountant said that he was happy that efforts purportedly made by the state government to scuttle the Otochal Awka event had failed.

▲ Dr Amobi Nwokafor arriving at event with Chief Austin Ndigwe 

A former local government administrator and an award recipient, Chief Chike Obuekwe, opined the event was a milestone in the history of Awka community. For him, the purported attempt to scuttle the event was being championed by misguided fellows out to misinform the state government. He said that there was a need to allow Awka to perform its ceremonies without interference, noting that the turnout at the event showed its popularity with Awka people.

One of the custodians of Awka culture and Head of Igu Aro Awka, Chief Patrick Nkwokee Okoludo Nweke, said that Awka was notable among communities that accord respect and honour to elderly people. He hailed the concept of Otochal Awka Day which he argued had helped to elevate the culture of the land.

The Chairman of Ikolobia Umudioka Village and member of the Otochal Awka Day Planning Committee, Chief Anayo Obiakor, expressed his happiness over what he considered a successful outcome for the event. He too, like Ndigwe earlier, stressed that people choose their rulers and present to government to confirm and not for the authorities to lord it over the citizens, as has been the case in Awka, as he claimed.

A Youth Leader in Awka, Comrade Tochukwu Nwokoye Nwosu, claimed that the masses in Awka were solidly behind the Otochal Awka, Ozo Nwibe Nwosu,  and Chief Austin Ndigwe.

Cultural dancers from the 33 villages of Awka took turns to pay homage to Otochal Awka and the host, Chief Ndigwe. Masquerades from various parts of Awka were on hand to entertain the animated crowd at Ndichie Square, Umudioka Village.

▲ Ijele masquerade at the event

▲ Apams Brass Band performing at the event

Rt. Revd. Dr Martyn Chukwuma Anagbogu from Umudioka Village in Awka, an Anglican bishop serving in the United States of America who was one of the awardees at the event, said in an interview with Awka Times that he was pleased to be at the event and to be honoured. “I am very happy because when I look back to where I came from, I give God praise for He raises the poor from grass to Grace,” he gushed.

▲ US-based Anglican bishop Rt Rev Martyn Anagbogu honoured at the event

▲ Women dance group performing at the Otochal Awka Day event

The event also marked a return for the Otu Ofuobi Igweogige Women’s Cultural Dance which gloriously entertained the people. In December 2017, a faction of the dance troupe reportedly loyal to Eze Uzu II Gibson Nwosu had destroyed their dancing equipment, setting some ablaze apparently because the women had invited Chief Austin Ndigwe to showcase their dance at Ezibi Square. As reported, canopies were destroyed and set ablaze, dignitaries were blocked from gaining access to the square, while hoodlums allegedly recruited to disrupt the programme poured sand on invited guests. The women incurred huge losses emanating from the crisis.

The return of the renegade dance troupe was judged by event organizers as a symbolic turn indicating that the Austin Ndigwe camp might be able, eventually, to win over segments of Awka society currently resisting its outreach.

That remains to be seen, and depends to a considerable degree on the actions of the opposing camp.

• Chudi Okoye assisted with report writing.