…Says Ikem Ogor Has No Claim Since 1974
The Isi-Uzo Local Government Council in Enugu State has dismissed claims that it is developing an estate on land belonging to the Ikem Ogor community, insisting that the property was officially donated to the council in 1974 and no longer belongs to the community.
While acknowledging the community’s generosity in donating the land, the council condemned the recent encroachment by some members of Ikem Ogor, accusing them of attempting to reclaim the property unlawfully.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Dr. Ike Onah, Special Adviser to the Council Chairman on Administration, the council urged the public to disregard “misinformation” about the ownership of the land. He explained that the land, which had lain unused for over 50 years, is now being developed to boost social and economic growth in Isi-Uzo.
“By virtue of alienation of the land to government around 1974, over 50 years ago, the land no longer belongs to the Ikem Ogor people, but to the government and entire people of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area,” the statement read.
“Members of the community are encroaching on the local government land and building on it. Ikem people do not want the land developed because they want to grab it back. Community members have been trespassing on the land, pacillating and farming on it without authorization from the Local Government Council.”
Responding to arguments that the council cannot use the property for estate development, the statement noted that “housing or estate development is part of the urbanisation programme of Isi-Uzo Local Government Council, as contained at page 41 of the Chairman’s manifesto.”
“The Chairman clearly stated there that housing is a challenge in rural areas and that his administration would engage in housing or estate development to help provide affordable housing and basic amenities for the rural populace through private sector and individual investments,” it added.
According to the council, the development model is not new, citing the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Nsukka, which was built on local government land. “This will help develop the rural area and stem the tide of urban migration. It is part of the Chairman’s programme towards moving Isi-Uzo from rural to urban status, more so when the Governor of Enugu State has declared Ikem and Eha-Amufu as urban areas.”
The statement further alleged that the real trigger for the dispute was the council chairman’s recent intervention in a boundary conflict between Ikem-Uno and Ikem-Nkwo autonomous communities. The chairman, it said, cautioned the traditional ruler and people of Ikem-Uno against alleged intimidation and invasion of Ikem-Nkwo in a bid to grab land.
“So, this did not go down well with the community as they earlier reached out to the Chairman and thought he was going to take sides with them,” the statement claimed. “They also claimed the land was ceded to government that they would be receiving royalty in regard. However, the Chairman asked them to produce both their survey documents and the said agreement. They have not produced any till date.”
The council also revealed that some Ikem indigenes had expressed interest in the housing project and inquired whether it was reserved exclusively for their community. “They were told that it is meant for the entire Isi-Uzo people as the land no longer belongs to one community, but the entire people of Isi-Uzo LGA,” it stated.
“Again, contrary to their wrong assumption that the land would be allocated freely to people, the Council Chairman told them to apply and pay the necessary fees like others. This did not sit well with many of them,” the statement continued.
The council urged members of Ikem Ogor to “desist from meddling in the Council’s development plans with the land, as the land does not belong to them and they have no right to dictate, direct or determine for the Council what development projects the Council should carry out on its land.”
