Some natives of Nimo in Njikoka local government area of Anambra state have appealed for Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s intervention into alleged land grabbing and constitutional breach in the community with a view to preventing it from degenerating into crisis.
According to the natives, there were infractions in the town’s constitution guiding the traditional stool and town union administration by the traditional ruler, Igwe Maximus Oliobi and the president-general, Mr. Ikenna Okafor.
Second National Vice-President of the town union, Mr. Ikechukwu Oliobi, who addressed newsmen on behalf of others, added that he was suspended along with Mr Anthony Adaedebe and Mr Patrick Egbekpalu, 1st and 3rd national vice -presidents.
“Three of us were suspended by the cliques of our President General and our traditional ruler at a meeting of the town few days ago because we spoke against the various infractions of the provisions of the town’s constitution guiding the traditional stool and town union administration by the traditional ruler and the president -general.
“In 2019, Igwe Maximus Oliobi, Owelle Nimo, gave chieftaincy titles to some persons without going through any committee, which is not supposed to be. And he is planning to give some other persons Chieftaincy titles again. This is a violation of the guidelines for conferring Nimo chieftaincy titles which Igwe should follow,” he maintained.
He further recalled that Nimo was made up of four quarters namely; Ifitenu, Ifiteani, Etiti-Nimo and Egbengwu with a communal land known as ‘Ala-awa’ which had been partitioned and given to the various kindreds but some were allegedly annexed, partitioned and sold by the traditional ruler, the president general and their supporters.
But when contacted, Igwe Oliobi denied indulging in illegal sale of land, adding that the community has a committee headed by a former Attorney-general of Anambra state, Hon. Peter Afuba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, overseeing the management of the communal land.
Also contacted, the President General, Mr. Okafor dismissed the allegations against him, noting that the town union leadership was piloting the affairs of the town transparently.
