…Insists: Church has taken enough of their lands.
The indigenes of Orlu Community, at a well attended meeting held on monday,September 8 at the Orlu Community Civic Center, expressed displeasure over what they described as the primitive and questionable acquisition of their ancestral land by the Catholic Church.
Majority of those who came from the different branches of ODTU, while speaking at the meeting presided over by Mr Augustine Nwadike, as President, narrated how the community embraced the Church with open arms and consequently donated their lands to them.
Some of the lands donated to the church according to the narrators include, the place where Holy Trinity church was built, the premises of Maris Brothers, and the former Bishop’s Lodge which the church converted to a hotel when the Bishop relocated to the Diocese.
” Other lands that the community willingly donated to the church include, the premises of the Morning Star Secondary School, Bishop Sheneham College (BSC) Orlu, among others.
“Orlu Community, also funded the construction of Mata Christi Hospital, Orlu, where the indigenes are presently denied recognition same way they funded building of Nwannegadi Micro Finance bank.
“Over 95 percent of those present at the meeting condemned the latest plot by the church to clandestinely acquire the expansive former premises of TESAC through the government after reportedly conspiring with the government to relocate the Imo State Polytechnic to Omuma.
Also speaking at the meeting, the spokesperson of Orlu Action Committee, (OAC) Barr Macdonald Obilor, said, the group, which he came to represent at the meeting and reaffirm their position comprises seasoned professionals who are all opposed to the shady acquisition in it’s entirety. He also averred that there was never a time that the land in question wes sold to the church, adding that the community will vehemently resist the ill motivated acquisition through every legal means.
Earlier, a committee that was set up by the traditional ruler of Orlu Community, HRH, Eze Dr Patrick Acholonu though was made public by the Town Union executive, while reading the report, ignored the most important item in their term of reference, which is to ascertain the circumstances that led to the purported hand over of the land to the church without the consent of the people. Rather, the committee concentrated on other less important issues.
The act provoked all those present at meeting who accused members of the committee of bias and compromise.
The high point of the meeting was the General Assembly mandating the committee to articulate the community’s position and present it to the church and state government.
Meanwhile, a prominent Orlu leader who pleaded anonymity said the firm resolve of Orlu people will expose sincerity or otherwise of the present executive because there have been allegations of compromise against them. Hence, the failure to do the will of the people will either confirm or negate the allegations.”
