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As part of efforts to address the ongoing land dispute in Ikwuano LGA, the Executive Chairman, Dr. Anthony Nwaubani, has summoned those who impersonated King O’tuwa 1st and his cabinet.
Recall that the individuals had falsely represented the King’s stance, making official appearances and misleading the public about their authority.
Also summoned were the sacked village heads of Amaoba Autonomous Community, who had gone on air to dissociate themselves from the ongoing land struggle.
During the summons, the Mayor of Ikwuano LGA, Dr. Nwaubani acknowledged Amaoba’s significance in Ikwuano’s affairs and addressing the issue of impersonation and misinformation.
He regretted that some individuals had gone on radio to declare that Ikwuano and Umuahia North had no land dispute, saying that such assertion contradicts the ongoing struggle to reclaim disputed lands.
Dr. Nwaubani assured that his administration would not allow Umuahia North to seize their lands, nor turn blind eye to the issue and pledged that every necessary step would be taken to ensure a fair resolution while the meeting was adjourned, stating that his cabinet would carefully review the situation and revert with a decision.
Southeastposts reports that the Village Heads could not answer any of the Executive Chairman’s questions as they were unable to explain why they went on air to make such a misleading announcement.
Earlier, while speaking on behalf of the alleged impersonators, former President-General of Amaoba, Chinedu Ukaegbu stated that while boundary issues had been discussed in past meetings, there was no record of condemning the land struggle, maintaining that the village heads distanced themselves from the matter because, in their view, Amaoba and Lodu had no unresolved boundary dispute.
On his part, HRM King O’tuwa 1st exposed the impersonators, revealing that they had struck a deal with Chief Nkejika Odokara (Onye Army) to act against the interests of the community.
He explained that Lodu had given the government land decades ago, but it remained undeveloped, stressing that during an official inquiry, the government had written to both Lodu and Amaoba, but the impersonators hijacked the letter and falsely represented the community’s stance at the Abia State House of Assembly.
HRM King O’tuwa who stated that he later wrote to clarify the situation, also noted that a developer had been brought in, and bulldozing had already begun following an approval from the House of Assembly.
The King stressed that if Amaoba and Ikwuano had not raised the issue with the government, Lodu’s decision to cede the land would have gone unchallenged.
King O’tuwa, acknowledged the combined efforts of the Executive Chairman, Prince Kingsley Nkume and himself for bringing the matter to light and reaffirmed that the sacking of the village heads still stands, AND NO ONE OPPOSED IT.
Contributing, Prince Kingsley Nkume argued that land disputes were a recurring issue in the region, pointing out that even the PG of Umuanna had been on radio for about three weeks discussing the Government College land issue.
He emphasized that the core issue was the radio announcement by the sacked Village Heads, highlighting that a disregard for constituted authority had become a recurring problem in Amaoba, citing the laws of Abia State in reinforcing his point.
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