The Obi-in-Council of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, Aniocha South LGA, Delta state, has rejected claims by a group, United and Concerned Indigenes of Utulu, alleging that Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo 11, Obi of Ogwashi-Uku is involved in land grabbing.
Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, HRM Ifechukwude Okonjo 11 is a younger sibling of former Nigerian Finance Minister and current Director General, World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The Obi-in-Council, in a signed statement, its scribe, Prince Ifeakanachukwu Emordi, stressed: “the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku cannot and will not confiscate land that lawfully belongs to Ogwashi-Uku community under his stewardship.”
It accused the group of planning “to plunge Utulu back into the dark days of criminality and unrest.”
It said the group was connected to persons recently granted bail from Federal Correctional Centre, Ogwashi-Uku for “inciting security disturbances in Utulu, Ogwashi-Uku”, adding that it has used the names of prominent government figures to bolster their false claims.”
It said the leaders of the group are not indigenes of Utulu Ogwashi-Uku, a recognised part of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, and as such lacks legitimacy.
Reacting, Mr. Chukwuma Nkwuka, leader of the group in a statement, said residents of Utulu community were being attacked by terror groups. He added that they would resort to taking up arms in self defence.
In the statement which reads in part, Nkwuka said, “We, the law abiding citizens of Otulu Community have been pushed to the wall by the terror groups and their sponsors leaving us with the only option of taking up arms in defence of ourselves.
“Recently, the Delta State government through His Excellency, Sir Monday Onyeme, Deputy Governor of Delta State in a meeting with some traditional rulers from Ogwashi-Uku, Okpanam, Ibusa, Issele-Azagba, Ubulu-Okiti etc following complaints of land grabbing directed that the sale of land in disputed boundary areas should be stopped forthwith pending the outcome of an Investigation Panel set up by the government to look into the matter.”