Police have sealed-off the palace of the factional monarch of Awka community, His Imperial Majesty, Eze Uzu III, Chief Austin Ndigwe.
The embattled monarch was billed to hold
the celebration of new yam festival in Awka Kingdom on Saturday when his palace
was sealed.
Chief Ndigwe had sent out invitation to top
politicians, monarchs, journalists and other special guests from across the
country to witness the new yam festival, but the event was stalled.
Invitation sent out had read: “You’re
invited to the OTITE AWKA 2022 (Iri Ji Ofuu) festival of Awka Ancient Kingdom
by the Obi of Awka Kingdom, His Imperial Majesty, Ozo Dr Austin Ndigwe.
“Date is Saturday, 10th September 2022, by
11am, at the Palace of the monarch.”
Sources said some monarchs from across
South East were already at the palace at about 11am, when a huge detachment of
police and military men arrived and sealed the palace.
The source said: “The policemen and
military chased everyone out of the palace, shooting canisters of teargas at
youths who had attended the event.
“There was pandemonium when they started
shooting, and a lot of people ran away, while many youths sustained injuries.”
A policeman, who stopped this reporter from
accessing the venue, said they were acting on orders from above.
When journalists reached out to the
spokesperson of Anambra State Police command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, he said he
was not aware of any order to seal-off the palace of the factional monarch.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor
Chukwuma Soludo, Chris Aburime said he was not also aware of any order in that
regard.
When reporters reached out to the embattled
monarch, he said he was in a meeting and cannot speak.
The traditional stool of Awka Kingdom has
been a source of tussle for a few years now, after some influential members of
the community claimed to have dethroned the monarch, Eze Uzu II, Igwe Gibson
Nwosu.
In his place, they crowned, Ndigwe, who
immediately assumed the position of the monarch of the kingdom, causing the
entire kingdom to be divided.
While some members of the community
supported Ndigwe as their monarch, others supported Nwosu.
Coincidentally, both Ndigwe and Nwosu had
slated Saturday for their new yam festival. It was gathered that Nwosu is the
government-recognised monarch, and holds a certificate of recognition, which
Ndigwe does not.