:Demad Access to Compensatory Plots
: Drop Coffin On Land.
The Crisis at the Central Market layout seems to have taken a different dimension as Villagers in a peaceful protest have demanded the unrestricted ownership/access to the 40% compensatory plots as approved by Government in March 19th, 2014.
This is even coming as they further accused the General Manager of Owerri Capital Development Authority, Frank Nkem of conniving with property agents/land grabbers to snatch their ancestral land.
Recall that Lead Express earlier reported the demolition of properties with Certificate of Occupancy ( C of O) worth nothing less than 2 Billion Naria by the Owerri Capital Development Agency even when the Plaintiffs in suit no HOW/966/2023 had sued the government and the said Agency upon the notice of the plot to demolish the said areas without any compensation from the government.
Addressing journalists during the peaceful protest, the protesters carrying a casket, decried the demolition of properties built in the 40% compensatory plots which was given to the villagers in line with Government’s policy of releasing part of the land compulsorily acquired by government back to the original land owners in order to accommodate them in the scheme of things.
Speaking with the Chairman of Umuohiadgu Community Nekede, Chris Mark Okechukwu and the Youth Chairman, Obiloum Cleoplias O. in their various speeches, stated that the protest is to draw the attention of the Governor, His Excellency, Sen. Hope Uzodinma who may not be aware of the inhuman demolition of the properties built in their ancestral land by the OCDA.
” The Chairman of OCDA upon demolition noted that the directives was from the Governor. Our amiable Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma we know distastes Land grabbing and we are very sure that he is not aware of what is happening at Central Market layout. We are also aware that the OCDA GM and Chief JPK Anyanwu are the brains behind this demolition”, they alleged.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Elders Association, Apostle Obinna Rossy Oguoma and the Youth Chairman, Ere-na-Abwmugwe, Stanley Ike presented to Lead Express a photocopy of the letter given to them on the 19th March, 2014 by the State Government , under the office of the then Director of Lands, Jude. M. Udeh with ref: Low/3134 where the 40% compensatory plots were released to the community.
Some abstract of the letter states thus;
“I am directed to refer to your letter dated 5th December , 2013 on the above subject and to inform you that the Hon. Commissioner for Ministry of Lands and Survey and Urban planning, on behalf of His Excellency has graciously approved the release of 40% of the portion of Land marked as “Site for Central Market West” on the Owerri Master Plan as compensatory plots to your people, Umuohiadgu Community Nekede. This 40% compensatory plot is for the whole Umuohiadgu Community”.
They however pleaded for His Excellency, Sen. Chu Hope Uzodinma to investigate on the said issues and give them fair hearing to explain to him what actually transpired in the
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