Anambra Community PG, Traditional Ruler Disagree Over Sale Of Land
Urum Community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra is currently in disarray following the disagreement between the Traditional Ruler and President General over sale of community land to an estate developer.
The disputed Ochiokwa Land was allegedly sold illegally to Nwaguatahihia by five families which claimed ownership to it with the knowledge of the traditional ruler, Igwe Benedict Nweke, but the President General, Felix Godwin said it belonged to the community.
Godwin who spoke to newsmen in company of other stakeholders called on the Anambra State government to wade into the illegal activities of some land grabbers trying to ignite crisis in their community.
He insisted that that the property was illegally acquired by Nwaguatahihia as it did not belong to the only five families that sold it but the entire community.
He saic said it was unacceptable that a particular land speculator named Nwaguatahihia was wielding wealth and inciting youths to cause problem in the community that had remained peaceful
The President General said the claim by the Traditional Ruler of Urum was unfortunate as he chose to take sides with the speculator and spoke in a manner that brought his subjects to confusion and disappointment.
“Such utterances and development if not put to check by the government may lead to clash of interest and crises in the town .
“The entire people of Urum are taking necessary steps to ensure that nobody intimidates them by buying a few persons to override the overall developmental interest of the community.
“I challenged the Developer to provide documents backing his claims of buying lands from the original owners and caution unsuspecting buyers to beware of the activities of some unscrupulous elements parading as land owners.
“We have written security agencies about the development and also to the state Ministry of Lands to be abreast of the development.
“I therefore call on residents of Urum to remain calm , peaceful and law abiding as we have full trust that the Soludo led government will respond swiftly and promptly to the matter with a view to ensuring that more development is attracted us,” he said.
Also speaking, the Leader of Ozor title holders in the Community, Chief Ebenezer Nwakeze and Elder Luis Umegbolu who spoke for the Elders of the Community insisted that there was never a time they sold the land to any developer.
The Chairman of Urum Land Committee, Brother Aron Okafor said the activities of speculators and grabbers were trying to put the community in bad light as lands are sold and resold by some agents who have no shame or integrity.
He said as a result, the Committee has been doing its best to ensure that genuine land buyers are not deceived hence the notice for members of the public wishing to acquire property in Urum Community to go through the proper channel created to avoid falling into the wrong hands.
On his part, the Chairman Urum in Diaspora, Chief Ignatius Nnameka, and the Chairman Urum Patriotic Forum, Sir Charles Nwankwor, said they would not have sold such strategic land out when the upcoming generation in the area were still hoping to get a place to attract meaningful development to their community.
For his part, the Chairman Urum Concerned Citizens and former President General of the town, Chief Mathew Nwudo, and the Chairmen of the Four villages who spoke with the media also proclaimed that the said land belongs to the entire people of Urum and was not sold to the said developer who parades as Nwaguatahihia Properties or anyone else .
The land developer , Chief Okechukwu Chukwueme (Nwaguatahihia ) Properties had told newsmen that he bought the Ochiokwa land from the rightful owners in Urum, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State contrary to speculations.
According to him, the land was properly documented and due process followed in acquiring it from the five families that owned it.
The Traditional Ruler of Urum, Igwe Benedict Nweke als reaffirmed that the land in question belonged to some families in the community and not the entire town as insinuated .
