BLOODBATH AVERTED AS PG CALLS OFF OTDU MEETING
What could have reportedly resulted in a bloodbath was averted yesterday in Orlu, when the President General of the Orlu Community Development Town Union (ODTU), Hon. Marcel Okereke, suddenly called off an ongoing meeting of the union.
It was gathered that while Hon. Okereke was presiding over the meeting, he received information that some persons allegedly loyal to the traditional ruler of the community, HRH Eze Dr. Patrick Acholonu, were at the venue to cause confusion.
Sensing a possible outbreak of violence, he quickly called off the meeting.
Recall that the Orlu community has been in turmoil for some time over the people’s refusal to allow the church to take over their land unlawfully.
It will also be recalled that the former President General of OTDU, Augustine Nwadike, resigned over what he described as overwhelming pressure on him by those who wanted him to support and endorse the alleged fraudulent acquisition of the community’s land by the church. Following his resignation, his deputy, Marcel Okereke, assumed office.
When contacted, Marcel Okereke said he called off the meeting to avoid a fracas that could have been fatal, adding that nothing is worth shedding the blood of any Orlu son or daughter. Responding to a question, Okereke said a new date would be announced for the meeting.
The controversy over the ownership status of the former TESAC premises, which has torn the Orlu community apart, is currently the subject of litigation at the High Court in Owerri. The community, as the plaintiff, is resisting the Catholic Church’s claim that the land was sold to them. The community, however, maintains that the land was never sold to any individual or group.
