Enugu: Amurri Monarch, PGs, Councillor Deny Backing Acquisition Of Land For Farm Estate

…finger LG chairman, Ogbodo for stirring crisis

BY JUDE OSSAI / ENUGU

Fresh facts have emerged on the controversial acquisition of Egu-Agbor-Umuigbo land at Amurri kingdom in Nkanu-West Local Government Area of Enugu State, for Farm Estate.

This followed the denial of prominent indigenes of the community including HRHs, Igwe E.O. Ogbonna, Igwe Fidelis Nwachineke and the Presidents-General (PGs) absolving themelves of complicity in the alleged forceful takeover of their ancestral land.

The Councillor, Hon. Obinna Chukwu representing the Amurri ward also absolved himself of supporting the establishment of the Farm Estate in the disputed land.

They passed the blame on the Chairman of the Nkanu West Local Government Area, Hon. John Ogbodo for not having listening ears to them.

The facts came to the fore on Wednesday when the indigenes of Amurri came to the land in their hundreds to honour the meeting that was scheduled by the state government team led by the state commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation , Dr Patrick Ubru.

However, none of the government officials including Chairman of the Nkanu-West Local Government Council, Hon. John Ogbodo was seen at the venue of the meeting.

It was learnt that the botched meeting was reached at a round table dialogue between the government officials and the aggrieved villagers, held on Tuesday at the office of the Agricultural Commissioner with a view to having an on-the-spot assessment of the land.

As at the time of going to press, none of the government officials was ready to speak on the reason for their absence at the Thursday meeting.

But in a statement made available to journalists, Igwe Ogbonna said he had made his position known to the authority, reiterating unequivocally that he is not a party to the land acquisition by the local government boss.

Parts of the royal father’s position read:

“I, His Royal Highness, Igwe Sir E. O Ogbonna, JP, KJW. (Okwe 1 of Eziokwe-Amurri), wish to state categorically, that I was never a party to any negotiation with respect to the acquisition of a parcel of land belonging to Umuigbo-Amurri community, by Nkanu West Local Government.

“The much I know about this issue was when my attention was attracted to the arrest and detention of two (2) persons from Umuonwe-Obegu (Amankanu-Amurri), under the false allegation of armed robbery and kidnapping, over the land issue.

“Without hesitation, I had to leave my Guest House in Enugu on 24th December, 2024, at about 9 am, to secure the release of these young men (in court), whose aim of their prosecutors was to bundle them straight to ATM, to suffer unjustly for an offence they never committed.

“I was later joined in the court by HRM Igwe Charles Nwoye for this rigorous process, and eventually returned to my house at about 4 pm, after securing the bail of the falsely accused young men.

“Of course this unforeseen development delayed my going home for the Christmas and New year festivities till 25th December which was most unusual. But I thank God that I eventually succeeded in resolving the issue which precipitated this delay.

“Subsequently, I had to summon a meeting of all the four (4) Igwes in Amurri in my palace at home to broker peace. Interestingly, all of them were in attendance during which we had robust deliberations.

“For purposes of clarity, all I heard then, was that the Enugu State Housing Development Corporation was negotiating for a donation of a parcel of land from Amurri, for housing estate.

“Frankly speaking, while in Nigeria, I never heard anything about the Smart Farm project. It was after I had travelled out of the country for my routine annual medical vacation in the United States, that my PG called and informed me about this.

“For then told him that it was a welcome development. I also went further to inform him that Eziokwe community has vast hectares of land at our boundaries with the following neighbouring communities like; Ugbawka, Agbogugu, Ogbaku and Nenwe.

“I instructed him that these areas should be donated to Amurri clan so that they can present them to the government representatives, who will now choose any of them for their Smart Farm project, housing estate, industries or whatever project they choose to establish there.

“I reasoned that the government’s presence in any of those areas, will automatically chase away the notorious Fulani herdsmen, who seem to have colonized the areas over the years, while the remaining portions will be enough for our people to farm on, as they have not been going to distant farmlands due to the fear of possible attack by these killer-Fulani herders.

“Even as I’m communicating with you right now, I’m still abroad, but I feel obliged to make my stand on this issue public, as my silence could be misconstrued.

“Meanwhile, I have been in constant touch with the three (3) PGs in Amurri, namely; Eziokwe, Umuigbo and ACDU. I have equally directed my PG to ensure that he cooperates with the other two (2) PGs in whatever decision aimed at resolving the issue peacefully.

“It is my strong conviction, that no responsible government (anywhere in the world), would forcefully take over people’s ancestral land for whatever purpose, when better alternatives have been duly provided.

“And finally, I appeal to the good people of Amurri to remain calm, sheathe your swords and expect justice in our favour, in no distant time, by His grace.

Among the community leaders who spoke to newsmen were HRH Igwe Fidelis Nwachineke

Chief Ken Ani, National President of Amurri Town Union, John Egbo, PGs Ede Romanus Chidi, Ani Friday Emmanuel, Oko Sandstine Ani and Arthur Ugwa, son of the soil and SPA to Bayelsa Governor on Special Duties. They agreed with the stance of their paramount ruler, appealling to the state governor for quick intervention so as to stem civil disobedience in the area.

They said that the community had since mapped out four other areas where the state government can conveniently use for farm estate, stressing that they are not against the establishment of the laudable project in the community. They also reiterated their support for Governor Peter Mbah, extolling his policies and programmes.

Editor

Jude Ossai (JP) a veteran journalist is a National Diploma holder in Mass Communication from Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State. He also studied at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu and Imo State University, Owerri for his first and second degrees in Mass Communication, respectively. He writes extensively on politics, crime, corruption, climate change, healthcare, human rights, social justice, among others.