By Ikenna Orioha
The entire Owerri Municipal Council was shaken on Thursday 30th May, 2013 as Amawom Community in Owerri Nchi-Ise staged a peaceful protest against Imo State government for hijacking their lands at Area K and Ekwema Nwanguo areas.
The group of protesters from Amawom Community in Owerri Municipal Council was protesting to ask the Imo State Governor to leave their lands alone because their condition is pitiable, saying that they have given Imo State Government a lot of lands for development, stressing that they have indigenous right to their lands.
While demonstrating at Owerri Municipal Headquarters, the SOLAD of Owerri Municipal Council promised to relate their protest message to the Commissioner for Lands. He pleaded with the protesters to write a protest letter so that he registers it to the government.
The leader of the protesters, Mr Ebere MacDonald told the SOLAD to ask the government to leave their only remaining lands alone. Saying that they don’t need compensation, negotiation that they want is their lands.
While staging the protest at Government House gate, Governor Okorocha refused to come out to address them, even as Douglas house gate was shut by the security to hinder the protesters access to the Government House. It was on record that when the Governor and his convoy were about entering into Govt House through Wetheral Road they stopped, reversed and followed Orlu road to enter Government House.
The protesters pointed accusing fingers at Mr Justin Emenyeonu for collecting N4.35m bribe from Governor Okorocha. This forms their decision of carrying a coffin which reads: “Mr Justin Emenyeonu Rest in Peace with your N4.35m compensation blood money”. They were singing a dirge alongside, calling Owelle an extreme capitalist and impostor.
The protest comprised of old men, old women and youths from Amawom Community.
