By tunji adedeji
Suspicion and peace of the grave yard are now pervading Umuagbom Ihitte Community, located along Aba-Owerri road, after Airport Junction, Ngor Okpala LGA, Imo State, following disagreement between the State Government, and the community over Government’s take-over a 85.5 hectares of land belonging to Umuagbom people.
According to Trumpeta findings, the large expanse of land would be developed by the Governor Okorocha led Government, in conjunction with African Diaspora Chamber of Commerce, in the United States of America, USA.
However, the owners of the land have raised alarm, saying they are smelling Rat, washing their hands-off any agreement with the State Government, and even accused their Traditional Ruler, Eze Barnabas Obirieze of conniving with the State Government, to strip them of their land, described as their only source of income.
The land is said to belong to four kindreds in Umuagbom village in Ihitte Okwe, and the kindreds are alleging forceful acquisition of their land by the Okorocha Government, as they are not in support of Government taking the land without due process; which should include compensation to the owners appropriately.
Speaking to Newsmen, the oldest man in the Community, Ezinna Oliver Eke disclosed that the parcels of lands which make up the 85.5 hectres include Okohia, Oru Uzo Umuowa, Ovoro, Oru Ugba and Oru Okwu Ugba, adding that the lands are the source of livelihood of the community.
Ezinna Eke said that their fear is that the land may end up in private hands, even as their children may not have where to build in future, pointing out that the list of structures to be erected on the land sounds like White Elephant projects, and private establishments.
Some of the facilities to be built on the land, this Newspaper learnt, include Owelle Dental Centre, Owelle Vision Centre, Imo State Mega Market, Imo State Farmers Market, Industrial Park among others.
Many of the youths who spoke to Trumpeta said it would be better for them to die than to allow Government forcefully take away their land with the pretence that it would develop the area, while it ends up as a private company.
However, reacting to Trumpeta inquiries, the Traditional Ruler of Ihitte Okwe Autonomous Community, His Royal Highest, Eze Barnabas Obirieze said that it was not true that he connived with Gov Okorocha to take away his peoples’ land.
The Royal Father said on June 4, 2013 he got a letter from Director of Lands, Ministry of Lands, intimating him that Government has developed interest in some portions of Lands in his domain and therefore he had no right to stop that request since Government is the custodian of all lands in the state.
Eze Obirieze said he took the message to his Community, which was received well by the majority, who said that siting of such mega structures would develop the Area.
He said Government who is acquiring the land through NEPAD had visited the community severally and sounded out the owners of the lands.
The Monarch disclosed that before entering the land, Government was asked to appease the god by providing one Cow, the sum of (N100,000) Hundred thousand Naira, Cartons of Beer and Hot Drinks which the people accepted.
He therefore said he was surprised when the villagers started revolting having realized that the land acquisition is becoming a reality, even accusing him of conniving with Governor Okorocha to dispossess his people of their land.
Unfortunately, Trumpeta learnt that the community has resolved to resist every attempt to take their land, saying that other lands taken by the Okorocha administration from various communities for legions of projects are still lying fallow, and they believed that the same thing will repeat itself in Umuagbom land, which may end up being partitioned for private use, following experience from other places.
