By Okey Maduforo Awka .
The ten years Chieftaincy tussle in the ancient Awka Kingdom has finally been laid to rest following the denouncement of Ozo Austin Ndigwe as Eze Uzu 3 of the Community.
Recall that Ndigwe had been parading himself as Eze Uzu 3 of Awka Kingdom but the Anambra state government set up a panel of enquiry into the tussle headed by Hon Justice Paul Obidigwe (rtd ) which submitted it’s report that Ndigwe is not the Traditional Ruler of the town.
Reports on social media had it that Ndigwe has announced the activities leading to the celebration of Egwu Imo – Awka festival where he addressed himself as Eze Uzu 3 of Awka Town .
But in a letter with a headed paper “Aka Ji Ofor Awka ” Ndigwe dismissed the report and contending that he is not the Eze Uzu of Awka adding that the social media platform is not his handle.
The letter read in parts ;
“Rebuttal And Disclaimer Of Alleged Publications”
“My attention has been drawn to the publication currently in circulation attributing to me portraying me as parading as the Traditional Ruler of Awka in defiance position held by the Government of Anambra state with respect to the rulership of Awka town Anambra state.”
“I wish to categorically state that I do not and did not operate the social media outlets which falsely presented the publication in my name and I have not taken any legal steps contrary to the position to the position of the Government of Anambra state ”
“Indeed a forensic extraction of the videos will disclose law enforcement officers who are no longer serving in Anambra state is misleading”
“I urge the general public to disregard these publications which are made in utmost bad faith and which clearly designed to implicate me ” he said .
Confirming this development the Senior Special Assistant to Soludo on New Media Mazi Ejimofor Opara said in a statement that;
“Chief Austin Ndigwe has formally denounced claims that he is still parading himself as the “Eze Uzu III” of Awka”
“In a letter personally signed and submitted to the Governor of Anambra State and the Attorney General, Ndigwe distanced himself from viral social media posts linking him to the Awka throne”
“He called the reports the work of mischief makers and said he never authorized any such publication. “Such information seeks to implicate me… they are made in utmost bad faith”, he wrote”
“Ndigwe affirmed his respect for the Government White Paper from the Commission of Inquiry on the Awka kingship dispute and declared his commitment to the peace and stability of the ancient kingdom” he said.
When contacted Ndigwe could not pick his calls but one of his sympathizers Mr Benji Okolo declined comments saying that he is not a position to speak on the matter directing reporters to get confirmation from the Government House of Anambra state.
Also Prof Austin U Nonyelu who was the Chairman Organizing Committee of Eze Uzu 2 Obi Gibson Nwosu 90 years birthday state that;
” I just heard it this morning, and I inquired to ascertain the veracity of the write up, and was told by my source that it was from Uzu Awka himself” he said.
