Elders and youths of Mmimi Communal Union under Nawfia Community on Monday led a protest to the Njikoka Local Government Authority, seeking its intervention over the alleged illegal sale of their communal land by the current executives of the union, led by Mr. Anayo Okongwu (Chairman) and Mr. Chido Nwankwo (Secretary).
The protesters are also calling on the Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, to wade into the matter, to ensure that the actions of the errant youths in the union’s leadership are brought to book.
According to the people, the activities of the individuals, if left unchecked, is capable of causing disunity, mistrust, and breakdown of the long-standing constitutional and traditional principles guiding Mmimi Communal Union.
Our correspondent, who monitored the protest, gathered that the said Ezi Ebenebe land, measuring over 40 plots, belongs to the five kindreds under the Union, namely, Umuobianagha, Umuoghom, Umueyiuche, Obeagu, and Umunwanduru.
The protesters who bore placards with various inscriptions expressing their grievance over the illegal sale of the land are demanding a full investigation into the activities of the current executives of Mmimi Communal Union, the immediate suspension of every unauthorized activity concerning communal assets pending investigation, and the restoration of constitutional order, respect for elders, and adherence to the traditions and guiding principles of the Union.
Addressing journalists during the protest, a former Chairman of the union, Chief Gabriel Okonkwo, noted that when he resigned, the new executives were overwhelmed by some youths who overthrew them, assumed leadership of the union, and have since been selling their communal lands.
According to him, the land was parcelled and surveyed by the Surveyor-General of the Old Anambra State union as far back as 1988, and was designated by the Union for the construction of a civic center and other ancillary projects.
“Since the project was envisioned, its commencement was delayed by a lawsuit between the union and a nearby community over another parcel of land numbering over 400 plots of land.
“But, these youths who are in leadership of the union went in and started selling the land reserved for future use by the community.
“That’s why the youths today said they are not in support of the nefarious activities of the few youths who have assumed leadership of the union, and that they want to recover the communal land for the purpose it was intended in the first place,” he said.
The spokesperson of the elders of the union, Chief Goddy Achebe, regretted that only three individuals were perpetrating the anomaly, noting that the constitution of the union was clear on the procedures under which communal properties can be sold or tampered with.
He said, “According to the constitution and long-established practice of the union, any intention to sell communal property must first be made known to the five autonomous families during the Iri Ji Festival of Nawfia general meeting, and thereafter, presented before the general meeting in December for deliberation and approval.
“For any sale to be validly approved, at least four out of the five autonomous families must consent to the reason for the sale and the proposed use of the proceeds.
“Unfortunately, none of these conditions were met. Instead, this set of individuals had resorted to using the operatives of Operation Udogachi to intimidate and harass our elders.
“Important decisions affecting the community are now taken without proper consultation with elders and family representatives, thereby undermining the traditional leadership structure and communal harmony.”
He appealed to the state and Njikoka Local Governments to come to their rescue, assuring that the elders will organize their youths to ensure they do not take the law into their own hands, but said they need the government to act fast.
On his part, the immediate past Chairman of the Union, High Chief Ifeanyichukwu Nkemka, regretted that the actions of the union’s leadership were enabled by some elders of the community, giving them impetus to perpetrate the illegal sales.
“My tenure had not elapsed, but they staged a gang-up against me. When they came up with the gang-up, I decided to step aside because I was sacrificing my money and my time to serve the people.
“With that impetus, they pounced on the community land and began selling, and as at the last count, they have sold up to 60 plots of land, and the money is nowhere to be found.
“The government should call the land thieves to order. As a matter of fact, their first tenure had elapsed, and they held a Kangaroo election to renew it.
“We thank God that the present executive of the youth wing of the union has risen to the occasion, and we believe the government should leverage their willingness to expose these frauds and ensure that the lands sold are recovered,” he said.
The youth Chairman of the Union, Mr. Chinedu Ekwunife, in his remarks, expressed gratitude to the youths for their support towards his administration and vowed that they will work hard to ensure that all the lands sold illegally are recovered and used for the benefit of the community.
Addressing the protesters at the Njikoka headquarters of the Local Government, the Njikoka Mayor, Barr. Ononuba Chinedu commended them for the manner in which they conducted themselves, noting that it shows that they are interested in peace.
Assuring that the Council authority will wade into the matter immediately, Ononuba promised to hear from all the parties to ensure a balanced view on the matter.
Meanwhile, when our correspondent accosted the Chairman of the Union, Anayo Okongwu, with the allegations, he denied them, calling them false.
He insisted that the executive followed due process in the sale of the land, claiming that the proceeds were duly used to provide basic necessities in the community.
Okongwu further revealed that the matter had already been decided by a court and a judgment given in their favor, saying that the continued peddling of the matter will simply put the community in a bad light.
