The ongoing agitation for the Federal University Of Technology (FUTO) Owerri to sign the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) for the final excise and release of about 1000 hectares of Futo land back to the land owners has taken another turn .
As some land grabbers have seized the perceived Futo reluctance to sign the MOU to encroach into the Federal Government approved excised Land.
This was made known as one of the host Communities ,Obokwu Community in Obinze took to the streets to protest the unwanted sale of the excised land by those they alleged as fraudsters and land grabbers for their selfish interest .
The protesters carrying placards which read EMMA DURU WHO ARE YOU WORKING FOR, THE GOVERNOR OR YOUR OWN INTEREST?
Obokwu land is not for land grabbers, ogolo you again? Na waooo,
Sunny anyanwu mayor of ihiagwa our land will not favour you ,chief anokam is our attorney and we are dealing with the federal government.
Ogolo what is your own? Ogolo ,emma duru, mayor of ihiagwa, surv.stanley and other faceless elements in imo government ,stay clear from obokwu’s land ,ogolo & co keep off from obokwu’s land, we know you… ,
The peaceful demonstration took place along the Obinze – Port Hacourt Road last Thursday,May.20.
The members of the community who trouped out enmasse chanting songs maintained that the land grabbers are using FUTO name and that of the State Government to sell their lands situated in Obinze.
Addressing newsmen,the Chairman of the Obokwu,community Hon Chukwudi Emegha stated that upon the fact that FUTO is yet to sign their own part of the MOU,that alleged land grabbers like Emma Duru, Stanley Anyanwu, Anthony,Chima Nnadi and their croonies are forcefully grabbing their lands for sale .
He revealed that Duru is a director with the Imo State Ministry of lands who is dropping the governor’s name,Senator Uzodinma to intimidate his people and sell their excised land .
“While Ogolo is a lecturer with FUTO using the name of the Vice Chancellor, Prof Francis Eze to perpetuate the alleged evil of selling off their ancestral lands”.
According to Chukwudi”,we have an Attorney, Chief Sam Anokam who has been on this struggle for the past 16 years.
” Now the Federal Government has excised the land to us,these land grabbers have come now to usurp part of the land claiming that it is at the instance the Imo State Governor, Sen. Uzodinma
But we have been reliably informed that the governor is not aware of Duru’s land grabbing activities in our community.
If the governor is interested in our land,he should go to the Federal Government which will direct him to us “
He also observed that efforts are on top gear to co -opt OCDA into the Land grabbing spree and for demolishing of existing structures on the land.
The youth leader of the community,Engr Wilson Ekugbo observed that the land in question is their resettlement area which is a welcome development for the teeming youths of the community who have no where to call their own .
He called on FUTO to abide by the directives of the Federal Government to excise and release part of FUTO land as contained in the MOU back to the land owners .
“The youths are not happy,we do not want any kind of blood shed nor chaos in the course of fighting for what rightfully belongs to us.
That is why we are carrying out a peaceful protest “
He also made it clear that the excised land which has been designed and named Aroche new town has a space for FUTO Teaching Hospital
“By act of acquisition,FUTO is under the Federal Government ,it has released the land back to the community ,so what is FUTO waiting for,?” he queried.
Elders from the community, Sidney Ngozi Igwe and Nze Victor Ihezue who bared their minds ,revealed that the institution did not pay a full compensation on the acquired land. “The federal Government only compensated on Crops planted at that particular season not on the economic trees ,
Adequate method of land acquisition did not come into play “
Enough is Enough,what has been released to us in lieu of compensation should be shown to us “
In the same vein, a representative of the women in the community, Mrs Charity Ekeocha stated that the women are not happy that FUTO is yet to sign the MOU to release their land to them;
“We need farmlands and our children need where to resettle”.
She also called on the government to come to their rescue on the menace of cattle herders with their cattles, destroying their farmlands.
