….Call for Gov. Soludo’s intervention

… Protesters are liars – Igwe panel

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

No fewer than 3000 indigenes of Umueze Ogwugwu Oba community, Idemili South Local Government area, Anambra State at the weekend protest alleged take over of their land by a government Property developer, (firm), Bukham Group.

The Nations News reports that the developers destroyed buildings, farm land, cash crops, economic trees, among others.

The protesters, some of who carried placards with the inscriptions, “Soludo come to our rescue, we have no other place call our own land, Bukham Group in collaboration with few of our sons have sold some plots of our land, we can’t be tenants in our own land, they have destroyed our buildings, farmland,”among others.

Addressing newsmen during the protest, their President, Emeka Muotuanya, said that, “Property estimated over #1billion that included, buildings, farmland, economic trees, farm produce, etc, have been destroyed and a good number of plots of land sold off 

“Just this morning they continued the destruction of our property. They left the place we gave them for the building of Anambra State International market and extended. They have almost taken possession of where we are living. Some of us out of fear have fled to neighbouring communities of Oraifite, Akwukwu and others.

” If no help comes our way they will wipe us and Oba will be eight villages instead of nine, We urge Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Harris Okonkwo representing Idemili North/South in the Green chamber and the Idemili South chairman, Iyom, to come to our rescue because they feel we don’t have anybody to speak for us or protect us from their attack on us.”

The President who spoke through his secretary general, Samuel Onwukwe, reiterated that, “The developer should only take the portion we allocated to him for the construction of the market as agreed. About five months ago it was Sonny Bigman that led a destructive team that caused severe damages to our property and today the developer has continued”, he stated.

Contributing, vice president of the youth wing, Chikodili Madu, recalled how their fathers spent money and got judgment at the supreme Court on the land and called on Governor Soludo, Harrris Okonkwo and council chairman, Iyom to come to their rescue, saying, “The developer and his team feel we don’t have anyone to assist us”.

Speaking, Nwagbologu Muotuanya, disclosed that the developer in collaboration with few of their sons are selling the portion they now encroach upon, “Because they feel we can’t do anything”.

“We have written many petitions to various offices on the illegal activities of these people but the petitions are dumped without asking questions,” he lamented.

The President of the women wing, Mrs. Chukwuma Rose, stated, “Umueze Ogwugwu is currently being destroyed and our buildings built by our husbands have been destroyed. The farmland, farm produce, economic trees, etc have all been destroyed and we now live in perpetual fear which prompted this protest.

“Soludo should help us because some of us are running to neighbouring communities of Oraifite, Akwukwu, etc”, she pleaded.

In a swift reaction when contacted, a 14-man panel of Enquiry established by the traditional ruler of Oba, Igwe Engr Augustine Chinedu Emelobe, to restore peace in the disputed land, led by Rev. Chris Emerie, denied all the allegations leveled against the developer and sons of Oba.

According to Emerie, “There was an agreement by all parties and Igwe Emelobe was there too, to clear the bushes that have grown at the said land to be able to see the demarcation and that is what is going on”.

Explaining further, a member of the panel, Ichie Samuel Onuchukwu, stated that communities do not allocate land to government rather government acquires land, adding that the land in question was acquired by the state government during the administration of late governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju, on 30th May 2001.

Hear him, “It was debated, approved and gazetted by the state House of Assembly, due process was followed. Again, there is no place called Umueze in Oba, Oba has nine villages and one of them is Ogwugwu.

“Phase A has 20.6 hectares of land and B has 138 plus hectares making them 151 hectares and the total number of hectares acquired by the Government is 159. When  151 is subtracted it remains eight.

“Phase A that has 20.6 hectares is given as compensation to the Ogwugwu people and they have almost sold it off and encroached on phase B, which has 138 plus hectares that the developer is working on. The acquisition stretched from Onitsha/Owerri road to Old Oba road, where there is Alaba International market Oba.

“It is 151 that is given for development as a market. The Ogwugwu people appointed Chuba Oranusi, that was a lawmaker then and late Ifeanyichukwu Enechukwu, as their Representatives and they on 15th May 2002, demanded compensation as owners of the land which was granted.

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“The protesters are liars, it is clearing of the bushes to ascertain the demarcation of the land that is going on as agreed in the presence of the monarch who wants to ensure peace, and appointed a panel of Enquiry of which some of them from Ogwugwu are members, no structure is touched,” he revealed.