By Nze Tobe Osigwe (Ezeikolomuo
Igbo Consciousness Teacher)
Few days ago, the committee that was set up to look into the crisis with Awka traditional stool submitted their findings and declared Igwe Gibson Nwosu as the authentic Eze Uzu and His Majesty Austine Ndigwe as illegitimate.
First, I am not disputing the findings and resolution of this committee. In fact, for the fact the government of Anambra State found it expedient to look into this crisis, I give them kudos.
However, what I find strange is the speed and manner the committee went about their job.
It took the committee barely three weeks to sit and consequently submit their report.
A delicate job of this nature requires time. I am certain the committee did not sit consecutively for the two or three weeks that they met.
So, how come they were able to conclude their investigations and hearing under one month?
In Julius Ceaser, Shakespeare warned it’s not enough for justice to be done, it’s important that justice needs to be seen to have been done.
In this case, justice may have been done but it does not appear so.
In the future, i recommend that this kind of committee should either make their sitting public or televise it. The public needs to be sure that the committee was not teleguided to come to a pre-determined end. We need to hear the arguments from both sides.
Finally, I am not from Awka, I do not have any bone in the fight. My initial interest was predicated on government knowing her limits on issues surrounding the core tradition of a community.
I strongly believe it is a community that determines who their king is not a certificate from government.
However, I wholly accept that the government has the all important task of maintaining law and order in the state. But like I said earlier, while going about this task, government must do it in a way that does not raise the suspicion of being partial.
