By Alphonsus Nweze
The Obi of Irukwelleko community in Oraukwu in Idemili-North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Ifeanyi Chiedu (Obi Ezeonochie) , has advised against the removal of ancient boundaries by land grabbers.
Obi Ifeanyi Chiedu who is also the Onowu of Oraukwu town spoke on Sunday in his residence when he led the elders and members of his village council to inspect the Udo shrine land where they want to build a new multi-purpose village hall which has been facing some resistance from a family claiming the ownership of the land.
Quoting from Proverb 22: 28, Obi Ezeonochie who has lived in USA for about 40 years reminded everybody especially Christians of what is written in Christian Holy book and the attendant consequences for anyone who goes against it.
Obi Ezeonochie said his aim of clearing the Udo shrine land which for years since 1950’s has been used as playing field, Market during the Biafra Civil war among others, was to use it for the construction of a village multi-purpose hall which he said was long overdue.
He denied destroying anything at the land including economic trees and hybrid palm trees as alleged by John Nwasoeze Ngwu Udo, saying that there is video evidence of what was done at the land during the clearing.
” Obi said: ” We don’t have a place to assemble. Everytime we gather at the side of bush each time we want to have meetings which makes us not have secret and I decided that we will build our village hall like any other village in Oraukwu. I am not contesting for the land. I don’t have land in the area. I don’t have plans to contest any land with anybody and I don’t have strength to fight. Only that we have to settle amicably”
” I and John have been friends since childhood not only him but the entire family including his late father. So, those who are deceiving John are doing in vain. So, lets adhere to what our Chairman has ruled” Obi concluded.
John Ngwu Udo had claimed about N15m as the cost of what were allegedly destroyed, saying, ” You stabbed me at back. My problem is the way you damaged all those things without my notice. Why not call me and inform me. I can not see something that is against you without telling you and that is my annoyance. I am not contesting anything with you nor you contesting with me because we are friends” Said John Ngwudo.
But others who spoke including Chief Simeon Nwose, one of the eldest man in the community and former Chairman of the Village Council attested to the fact that the Udo shrine does not belong to a particular family but the entire Irukwelleko village.
Chief John Nzeluaka one of the oldest men in the village also recounted how his father advised him to visit offia Udo for protection when he was preparing to join the army during the Biafra Civil War therefore that Udo is ancient and belongs to no one in particular. Also Stephen Ikediobi also recounted playing in the Olile Udo as a child.
However, beyond that, there is a law in Oraukwu town that every shrine land belongs to the community or village as the case may be.
The village council therefore resolved that the Udo shrine land is for the entire Irukwelleko village of Oraukwu, not for an individual family.
The chairman of the Village Council, Chief Ikechukwu Olisa directed that no person should go near the land until all the issues are amicably resolved.
About Author
