Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has summoned the chairman of Igbo-Etiti Council, Mrs. Nkechi Ugwu-Oju and the traditional ruler of the Community, Igwe Christopher Okwor, for alleged demolition of a two-bedroom being built for a 65 -year old blind man at Uwani Otobo, Umuezike Community in Aku.
The duo is to attend a meeting with the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. Charles Egumgbe, in his office today, with a view to answering questions on the matter.
A Philanthropist, Mr. Kaleb Ezeamagu, from Aku, Igboetiti Local Government Council had at the weekend raised the alarm over the alleged demolition of a two-bedroom apartment he erected in the area for Mr. Nnadi. He alleged that some hired thugs working for the traditional ruler of the area Igwe Okwor, last Thursday pulled down the recently roofed building on the claim that the land housing the structure belonged to the monarch. He said: “I decided to build a house for the visually impaired man because he is living in a mud house, as he had neither a wife nor children. I am from the community I know the land belongs to Nnadi. Before I started building the house I consulted elders in the community who attested that the land belonged to the blind poor man, as his forefathers also lived in that land. It may be because the man is poor and blind, that is why the traditional ruler wants to take away the land from him”
A statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Nnanyelugo Chidi Aroh, made available to newsmen in Enugu, hinted “that the state government was deeply worried by the allegation of the involvement of the traditional ruler of Umuezike community in the demolition and the negative effect of the development on the peace and security of the area. Aroh, who also hails from the council area, had reassured the people of Enugu State of the state’s irrevocable commitment to their welfare, as well as the peace and security of the state. The victim, however, said he was surprised that somebody would contemplate hiring thugs to destroy the house a philanthropist and a kinsman was building for him.
“I heard our traditional ruler says the land belongs to him, but that is a complete lie. Is it because I am blind and poor that the traditional ruler wants to take my ancestral land? I call on government and spirited individuals in the society to come to my rescue by ensuring that my ancestral land is not forcefully taken away from me because I am poor and blind, “he said, amid tears He also urged the government to ensure that the person who hired thugs and the thugs who pulled down the 2-bedroom apartment was brought to justice. Reacting, the oldest man in the community, Mr Sylvester Okpe described the action of persons who pulled down the house as an abomination, assuring that investigation had commenced on the matter.
Contacted, the monarch, Igwe Okwor claimed that the land in which the two-bedroom was being built for the blind man belonged to him. “ Let me tell you they are not building any house for the blind man, some people are using the pretense of building a house for the blind to acquire my land,” he said.