Dr. Chukwuezugo Austin Ndigwe on Monday openly defied the Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, by publicly parading himself as “Ezeuzu III” of the Awka ancient kingdom.
Ndigwe, accompanied by a convoy of police officers on motorcycles and some titled men of Awka, moved through several streets in the town before proceeding to attend a memorial service for the parents of Lt. Gen. Chukwukadibia Obiakor.
In a video posted on his Facebook page, Ndigwe was seen being driven in a convoy while supporters hailed and praised him as “Ezeuzu III” of Awka Kingdom.
The statement on his Facebook page reads:
“His Imperial Majesty, Obi Dr. Chukwuezugo Austin Ndigwe, MON, JP, Ezeuzu III of Awka Ancient Kingdom, felicitated with Lt. Gen. Chukwukadibia Obiakor at the memorial service of their parents, held on Monday, April 13, 2026, at Umudioka Village, Awka.
At the same time, Obi Ezeuzu Awka paid a condolence visit to one of his cabinet chiefs, Akadiana n’Amikwo Awka, over the death of his wife, and also visited his former cabinet chief member (Akwudolueze) of Otochali Achalla-Orji Village, Nkwelle Awka.
Long live Ezeuzu Awka III.
Long live Awka Naso Enwe.
Long live Anambra State.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Signed,
Ezeuzu-in-Council.”
However, the Anambra State Government had, over the weekend, declared that Obi Gibson Nwosu is the authentic traditional ruler of Awka town.
The government also directed Chief Austin Ndigwe to cease parading himself as the monarch of the Awka Kingdom.
This directive was formally conveyed in a White Paper presented to the Awka Town Union by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Tochukwu Nweke, acting on behalf of the state authorities.
The White Paper clarified the succession framework of the Awka Kingdom, noting that following the reigns of Ezeuzu I from the Ifite section and Ezeuzu II from the Ezi section, subsequent occupants of the stool are to emerge in order of seniority from designated quarters, including Nkwelle, Amachalla na Ato, Agulu, and Ifite Awka.
According to the government, Ndigwe is not the traditional ruler of Awka, and his claim to the Ezeuzu throne is unlawful.
The document is widely regarded as a decisive step toward ending years of dispute over the revered stool, providing both legal and administrative clarity to the traditional leadership structure in Awka.
Governor Soludo had, on several occasions, warned Ndigwe to desist from parading himself as the monarch of Awka, without success. This ultimately led to the constitution of the Justice Paul Obidigwe Panel to investigate the matter, which subsequently affirmed Nwosu as the authentic traditional ruler.
The government’s White Paper now stands as the final authority on the issue and serves as a definitive directive to Ndigwe to desist from further claims.
Will this WhitePaper stand?
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