Awka Royal Standoff Escalates as Obi Austin Ndigwe Defies Soludo’s Arrest Warning

(Obi Austin Ndigwe. Phot by Jungle Journalist)

Here's the news paraphrased:

The traditional ruler of Awka Kingdom, Obi Austin Ndigwe, has declared his willingness to face imprisonment rather than relinquish the throne his people crowned him to occupy.

In a video that has gone viral on social media, filmed in what appears to be a village square, Ndigwe made clear that his authority as Obi was bestowed upon him by the people of Awka not the Anambra State Government and that he had no intention of stepping down from a position his community had formally given him.

The defiant statement comes in the wake of a report by a panel of enquiry set up by Anambra State Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to resolve the ongoing dispute over the royal stool.

The panel concluded that another claimant, Obi Gibson Nwosu, is the only legitimately crowned monarch of the kingdom.

Governor Soludo has also publicly backed this position, stating that Nwosu remains the sole government-recognized ruler of Awka Kingdom, and warning that Ndigwe risks arrest and imprisonment if he continues to present himself as the monarch.

However, Ndigwe appeared unfazed by the governor's warning, essentially daring Soludo in his address to the locals. He stressed that he was crowned Obi of Awka Kingdom specifically not of Anambra State in what many interpreted as a pointed message to the governor to stay out of the matter.

His remarks were met with loud cheers and applause from supporters present.

The video has sparked significant debate online, with some questioning why the government has not acted on its threat to arrest him, while others have urged Governor Soludo to allow Ndigwe to serve the community that chose him in peace.