On 18 September, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo granted prerogative of mercy to Chidozie Nwangwu, known as Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki. The popular native doctor had served 11 months of his sentence for Oke-ite practices. He had just weeks left. Soludo released him early. As part of the deal, Nwangwu renounced fetish activities. He accepted appointment as Ambassador for Youth Reformation. His new role: guide young people toward positive change. The governor also inspected prison facilities during the visit. He pledged collaboration for the state’s good. His adviser described the move as a step for correction and restoration. Online views split. Some supported the governor. Others questioned the timing.
Anambra politics has long intertwined with traditional religion and native doctors. In the 2003 governorship crisis, Chris Uba’s influence network included traditional practitioners. In 2010, Peter Obi’s administration regulated shrines. Native doctors hold cultural authority in many communities. They influence voters, resolve disputes and shape local opinion. Soludo has courted traditional institutions since taking office. In 2023, he appointed traditional rulers as security ambassadors. The pardon follows that pattern. It is not the first time a Nigerian governor has converted a controversial figure into a state asset.
Nwangwu’s release is transactional. He renounces fetish practices. He becomes a government ambassador. The state gains a reformed figure who can speak to youth. Nwangwu gains freedom and a platform. Both sides benefit. The timing matters. Anambra holds its governorship election in 2027. Soludo is seeking a second term. Nwangwu’s followers are young men. They are a constituency. Converting their leader into a government ally neutralises a potential critic and recruits a mobiliser.
The skeptic view: an 11-month sentence for Oke-ite practices ends with a government appointment. That suggests the law is negotiable for useful people. The supporter view: mercy is a constitutional power. Reformation is better than punishment. Both can be true.
Winners: Nwangwu, who gains freedom and a title. Soludo, who gains a youth mobiliser. The state, if Nwangwu genuinely reforms. Losers: The rule of law, which looks transactional. Critics of fetish practices, who see validation. Prisoners without connections, who serve full terms. Voters who question the timing.
Bottom Line: A native doctor left prison as a government ambassador. Mercy is constitutional. Timing is political. Anambra votes in 2027, and Soludo has recruited a constituency that once operated outside his reach.