Hundreds of Nimo indigenes made up of the youths, women groups, and the elderly on Thursday stormed the Anambra State Government House to demand for the removal of their Owelle, HRH Igwe Maxi Oliobi over illegal land grabbing, intimidation and incessant arrest of youths of the community.
The Nimo indigenes who marched in solidarity while chanting songs had placards with inscription, “vote of no confidence has been passed on Igwe Maxi Oliobi”, “Defacto Owelle Nimo is causing instability in Nimo”, Your Excellency, the Execitive Governor Soludo, Save our integrity, pls withdraw the certificate of recognition to Igwe Maxi Oliobi that is the decision of Nimo General Assembly in the December General 2024 General Assembly”, among others.
Addressing representatives of the government at the State House, Nimo Youth Leader Hon Chidke Okwaji explained that the people of Nimo have come with tears and grievances about the high handedness, intimidation, brutalization and illegal sales of community land by the Owelle of Nimo.
“We the sons and daughters of Nimo have come to the state government which we believe has the sole responsibility of protecting Ndi Anambra to lay our grievances on the wrongs, and crisis eating deep in our community Nimo. Since three years the state government have not been able to settle this crisis which is the illegal land grabbing of people’s land without consultation by our king. Rejecting of separation of power by coveting all powers to himself and the refusal to acknowledge the President General of Nimo which was election and supervised by the Commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs”.
Speaking further, the Youth Leader noted that in several occasions the king has brought in soldiers especially the day the Town Union had their election, they went in and broke the PG office and carted away some undisclosed amount of money. “He created a fake BOT which was rejected by the Town Union and used them as parallel government which started causing problem. Again he dug up federal water pipe line project that was installed for the benefit of Nimo Community and sold it, what type of King will accused the youths of the community of kidnapping and criminals simply because they refused that thier land will not be sold, what type of Traditional ruler will take the youths to DSS facility and accuse them of killing fulanis and possession of firearms”.
“We have written alot of petitons but nothing has happened so we deemed it fit to come to the government and lay our grievances. He is instigating violence against the youths, going around countering any information being disseminated by the Town Union. On 24th Dec 2024, we however passed vote of no confidence on him because of his neferious activities which includes coveting community property to his personal gains and we are here to ask the government, are they waiting when the community starts splitting bloods then they will come for intervention?”, recently he called Ndi udo ga achi and beat up one of us and damaged his eye, he added.
“We urge that our lands should not be sold but the challenge is that those people he sold the land to are demanding for their money and because the money is no where again he has refused to let go of the land.
Referring to the constitution, Hon Chidike Okwaji disclosed that out of the eight labeled offences which any leader will commit before being removed, Igwe Maxi Ike Oliobi have committed seven.
Meanwhile one of the government officials who did not want his name in print stated that all the reports have been recorded while assuring them that professor Soludo does not give room to anything that will mar his administration. “We have registered your plight and will make sure he goes to the appropriate quarters and surely the government will investigate this matter and we appeal with you people to go in peace and hope to hear from the state government where both parties will be invited and evidences brought. We also plead with you to put up a petition stating all that has happened and submit to us”.
Adding, Chike Okafor stressed that the igwe has not even called to address the town and the intimidation and arrest of our youths is becoming alarming and there is need for the government to come and attend to the situation else the bag kegged with gun powder will explode.
Also speaking, Mrs Chizoba Nwafor who spoke on behalf of the women present maintained that the community members are fed up of the leadership of Owelle. “We want Soludo to relieve him of his position as well as retrieve this certificate”. She pointed that the youths of the community have been threatened by those thugs he brought to the town. “Last December we had cast a vote of no confidence for him and we plead with the Governor to take away his mantle of leadership from him for peace to reign in our community again”.
Meanwhile, the peaceful protester moved to the state House of Assembly where they met the House of Assembly member representing the good people of Njikoka 2 constituency, Hon Jude Akpua PhD.
According to the youth leader who equally addressed some of the house member present, urged the speaker to intervene and use his good office to bring solace to Nimo Community.
Hon Akpua while commending Nimo indigenes in the manner in which they arranged themselves in an orderly manner, urged them to petition the whole information with evidences to the speaker who will address the matter as appropriate.
