– Cautions Orlu, Amaifeke Communities Against Re-Inventing Long Settled Disputes
The leadership of Umuna Community Development Association at home and in the Diaspora has unequivocally said that the headquarters of Orlu Local Government Council that has been a subject of claims and counterclaims is situated on Umuna land. Hence, Amaifeke and Orlu communities are making frivolous landlordship claims that do not hold water.
The community, in a statement signed by, Barr. H. I Mbachu Chairman, BOT-UCDA, Prof. Bede Duru President-General, UCDA, Mr. Wisdom Eshiaso, PG, Umuna Autonomous Community, Engr. Pastor Cammy Okafor, PG, Uzoubi-Umuna Autonomous Community, Mr. Joseph Duruh, Apex Youth Leader, UCDA, Prof. Mike Okoro (Former Sec-Gen, Old Umuna Town Union), Comrd. Chinedu Ogubuike, PG, UCDA-Abuja, Dr. F. O Agunenye (Ayeye) UCDA-USA, Chief Allen Charles Nnadi, UCDA-Europe, and made available to the press said, “Our attention was recently drawn to some reckless, careless and tactless statements credited to the Chairman of Orlu Local Government Area on one side, and the former President-General of Úlú-Nwafó (Orlu) autonomous community on the other, both allegedly making claims of the landlordship of the Orlu Local Government Council Secretariat at Ugwu Nwapali, in Umuna.
For purposes of emphasis, we as a united people of Umuna and Uzoubi-Umuna autonomous communities, under the Umuna Clan body, would have ignored these rantings, but for the sake of our younger generation who may wish to be clarified to, the boundary histories of their communities”.
They made historical references to prove their case pointing out that, the “Ugwu Nwapali” as it was then called, “ before the arrival of the Colonial Masters, was the vast land today habouring the entire Orlu Hotels, NEPA Office, NITEL, former Ministry of Works/UBA, Orlu Council Secretariat, the Red Cross building area called Nkwú ító Roundabout, and down to the All Saints Anglican Church land sold to the Old Anglican Diocese of Nkwerre by the Ewuru family of Okwurodu-na-Idiaro, Amaoji village, Uzoubi-Umuna, for the development of the church for the distant Ofeke people known today as Amaifeke.
Umuna is bounded with Úlú-Nwafó from the wall of Orlu Hotels Limited down to the Cheshire Home from where there was a track road leading to the Shrine still known today as Ogidi Umuna. The Ogidi deity situates at the beautiful spring behind the Cheshire Home, is still recognized till date, as the Head of Deities around Orlu. This is why Umuna still collects all land development levies around the Orlu Hotels till date.
As at today, Umuna Ancient community still has its own Health Centre built and located behind Board of Internal Revenue office, downhill the road leading to the Cheshire Home, and there has been no dispute about the owners of that land, even as various governments had at one time or another made some renovations on the Health Centre to reflect the Council’s management.
Since all verifiable and certified records can attest that the land habouring the All Saints Anglican Church belonged to Umuna, and those of Orlu Hotels too, one then wonders where those making claims of landlordship of the Council Headquarters got their information from, or are they merely trying to test our resolve whether not as still that great and united Odududike who had fought wars, conquered Egbendu, and still ready to fight again”?
They therefore cautioned Orlu and Amaifeke communities against laying false and unnecessary claims to the landlordship of the Orlu Local Government Council headquarters which according to them is on Umuna ancestral land.
They further stated that, “We are of the strongest belief, that these land issues had long been settled by our forefathers. It is not necessary to re-litigate these issues but if our sister communities think otherwise, please let them be ready to be our guests in courts.
Enough of the provocations!
Finally, we wish to send our warmest appreciations to His Excellency, the Executive Governor Of Imo State, Distinguished Sen. Hope Uzodinma for his massive infrastructural developments going on in the entire Orlu LGA. We thank you, our God-sent Governor.
As modest and unassuming people of the capital town of Orlu LGA, and the commercial heartbeat of Orlu zone, we genuinely welcome all to our land, while hoping and praying that our visitors do not destroy the landlords, and when going home, do not catch hunchbacks”.
