The people of Amechi-Uwani in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State have protested the acquisition of over 2000 hectares of their ancestral land called Agbana. The expanse of land has been a matter of controversy since the days of the old Anambra state when Senator Jim Nwobodo, who incidentally is one of their kinsmen, wanted to acquire the land as the permanent site of the then Anambra state University of Science and Technology (ASUTECH).
But according to the traditional Prime minister of the community, Chief Michael Oguejiofor Okenwa: “We protested pointing out that the land was the only one left as we had lost all our other land which includes University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, parts of Independence Layout, Nigeria Police College, etc. Because of our reasonable and heart touching explanation, Nwobodo could not go ahead with his plan. He dropped the idea.
“After Nwobodo, came military Governor Emeka Omeruo who tried to resume the permanent site plan. Due to our continued pathetic argument and protest, he too could do nothing other than to start erecting one building on the land. Still no negotiation, no compensation, no gazette, no acquisition.
“Governor Allison Madueke later replaced Omeruo and went ahead to publish a gazette purporting to acquire the land for the said university. Still there was no negotiation and no compensation. Our protest continued. Then came Chimaroke Nnamani who perfectly understood our case and plight. Consequently he took the university to Agbani, and we heaved a sigh of relief.”
The community’s jubilation was, however, cut short when the immediate past dispensation in the state led by Sullivan Chime took over the reins of power. The land was neither returned to them nor was it acquired for overriding public interest but for private use.
The community said, “Sadly, instead of releasing the land to us, Sullivan Chime who succeeded Nnamani handed the land to a private developer – Private Estate International West Africa allegedly owned by his brother and others. This company is parcellating and selling our land without recourse to any law of the land. No negotiation, no compensation.
“We went to court against Enugu State Government and the private developers. More than one year ago, the defendants told the court that they wanted out of court settlement and requested for time. We and the court agreed but the defendants failed to initiate any negotiation since then. Instead they have intensified the sale of our land to all sorts of people powerful enough to bully us into abandoning our birth right.”
Members of the community who poured out in hundreds on Tuesday morning, although, exonerated the current administration in the state led by Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi from their travails, they, however, in a letter to the governor drew his attention to the “bitterness, disappointment and unfair treatment meted on the owners of the land and handed over to a private developer without negotiation with or compensation to us.”
They told the governor in the letter that the land in question, Agbana Land (Now being called Centenary City) is their ancestral land owned by the clans that make up Amechi-Uwani. The clans include Umu Nuzi, Umu Ogori, Umu Nwachi, Umu Agom, Umu Arum, Umu Oko Aga, Umu Nnaji Aga Egbo, Umu Chime Ngwu and Umu Ngaa Nvene.
They further told the governor that “the land in question is the only homestead we have for our children, having lost all others to government acquisition. We have paid our dues and government, our government is requested to be understanding enough and hands off this remaining land. If any part of our land must be needed, appropriate negotiation and compensation platform should be erected and put into force.”
At the protest procession, the community members displayed placards some of which read, “Give us back our land as it is no more for ESUT”; “ Government don’t acquire land to sell, they acquire for public interest”; Our land acquired for ESUT is now Jide Chime’s own through his brother ex-governor Sullivan Chime”.
No comments:
Post a Comment