The people of Ogo, Ikem Asokwa, seat of the headquarters of Isi-Uzo local government area of Enugu State, Monday came out in their numbers to demonstrate against what they believe is unlawful sale of the land they donated to the local government.
The people who embarked on a peaceful protest at the Council Headquarters, alleged that the land the community donated to the local government for development for the Council Secretariat, Schools, Hospitals and others, has been misapplied by the Council Chairman, Obiora Obeagu who they accused of allocating the land for individual use.
The protesters bearing placards with different inscriptions such “Stop buying LG land from Obiora the local government chairman” ” It is a shame”, ” this land belongs to our people”,” Respect our agitations; Say no to the sale of LG land”; ” “Community land is equal to community future”, ” LG chairman is selling our land to individuals”, Keep away from him” , among others, pointed out that if other chairmen before him had sold the land, he would not have seen the land to sell and urged him to desist.
Addressing the protesters, the youth president, Agbodo Sunday frowned against such practice and called on the council boss to desist forthwith.
Agbodo said that they gave out the land since 1974 for development purposes not to be sold to individuals other than for government use and wondered that the council is using it for personal business.
“He should leave our land alone. We donated it to the local government in 1974 for development, for schools, hospitals, not to be sold,” he declared.
Other protesters who spoke in like manner, urged the chairman to steer clear from the land.
The traditional ruler of Ikem Uno, Igwe Okey Ogbodo also expressed displeasure with the alleged sale of the local government land which his community donated.
Igwe Ogbodo said that when they learnt that the chairman had started clearing the area with the intent to sell, they drew his attention and he promised to meet with them and is yet to do so.
“We understand that the Chairman cleared a portion of the land. We went and met him. He said he will call us but hasn’t. We waited for two weeks but we did not hear from him. What we learnt is that part of the land has been advertised for sale.
“The people think that I am in league with the local government chairman but I am not. When they were clearing the place, they even encroached on the community land.
“We have not given out our land for estate development. This is land for Housing Development along Ikem Nkwo Road. If they want to build estate, they should do so on the land we already gave out to the Federal Government,” the unhappy Igwe, who is also the Chairman of Isi-Uzo Traditional Rulers Council said.
But reacting to the protest which he said he is aware of, Hon. Obiora Obeagu said that the land does not belong to Ogo Ikem people anymore but the local government council.
Obeagu wondered how they were protesting against something they had willingly given to the local government 50 years ago and equally wondered why they still claim that the land belonged to them.
“So they gave the local government land and they are telling the government what to do with the land? That land belongs to the local government and if you come, you will see that they are even encroaching on the land and they did not deny.
“We have taken action and we have done a survey plan of the land from the office of the Surveyor General.
“The land that was given to the local government since 1974, what business do they have there? Is it still their land? If you give somebody something, you come and begin to dictate what should be done there?, the council chairman queried and pointed out that the entire community has been designated urban area and therefore belongs to the government.
“Are you not aware that government has right to acquire land? Are you aware that the governor has declared Ikem and Eha-Amufu urban areas in Isi-Uzo?
“The land you are talking about, they have given it to the local government, they do not have any right on the land again,” Obeagu finalized.
