Tension In Awka Over Alleged Dethronement Of Monarch

By Vincent Ujumadu Awka— THERE was tension in Awka kingdom,
yesterday, following alleged dethronement of the
traditional ruler of the town, Obi Gibson Nwosu,
by a section of Awka Council of Kingmakers over
alleged violation of the community’s constitution. But the embattled monarch dismissed the group,
saying they have no such powers to remove him
as they were not the authentic kingmakers of
Awka. Those behind the action alleged that the monarch
had on several occasions violated the 1986
Traditional Rulers Amended Constitution for Awka
and the Code of Conduct, which he reportedly
signed on January 1, 2000 after he was crowned. Addressing reporters in Awka, members of the
Council of Kingmakers said they took the decision
in liaison with Awka elders. A statement signed by Chief Emmanuel
Okechukwu and Obuora Essell contained 18
allegations levelled against the traditional ruler. President-General of Awka Development Union,
Mr. Tony Okechukwu, who is loyal to the
embattled monarch, described the alleged
dethronement as laughable, adding that as the
President-General, he was the one empowered by
the virtue of his office to appoint kingmakers.