The Sun News On-line

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State yesterday debunked allegations of misappropriation of 310 hectres of land acquired by government from Umuzocha village, Awka for overriding public interests.

Obi’s denial came just as about 1000 indigenes of Umuzocha village stormed Government House in protest against what they called illegal acquisition, sale and allocation of their land by the state government.

The placard carrying protesters led by the President of Umuzocha Development Union (UDU), Mr. Mike Ozoemena, who sang anti-government slogans, were made up of men, women and youths.

The governor, who spoke through his Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Planning, Mr. Peter Afuba, at a press briefing before the arrival of the protesters said his administration has not been involved in any land deal since its inception, describing the allegation by Umuzocha village as being politically motivated.

He said: “I think this is an orchestrated demonstration because it is not predicted on any factual claim. The people who are demonstrating ought to know that government has not acquired an hectre or even a square metre of land since inception in Awka.

“This government is the only government and the first government since the inception of this state that has paid compensation for the use of land in Anambra State.

So, for anybody to say that government recklessly acquired land, certainly the person cannot seriously be talking about this government and I challenge the person to show me one square metre of land that was acquired by government.”

Meanwhile, a mild drama took place as attempt by security men to stop the elders of the village from seeing the governor, by locking them in an office at the security post so that the governor who was preparing to go out could leave without their knowing, failed.

On realizing the plan of the security men, the men called their kinsmen outside on phone and informed them of the plot and asked them to block the way so that the governor would see them, an action that yielded result, as the governor stopped and asked them to write him for an appointment to discuss the matter, assuring them of his attention on a later date.

Some of the placards read, “Government took our lands without compensation; Leave Umuzocha lands alone; and, “We say no to illegal sale of our lands.”
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the governor left, the President of UDU said the people decided to close their shops and businesses for a day to protest the inhuman treatment the state government is giving them, warning that they would no longer allow individuals to acquire, make use of or sell their lands.