On Saturday, members of the Divine Heaven Amalgamated Landlords Association, Ifite-Nteje, in the Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, protested against the alleged person in the neighbourhood destroying their property.
It was reported that one of the proprietors of the now-demolished Malachy Chukwu hotel committed suicide as a result of the event.
The demonstrators, who were both male and female, said that a group posing as the executive members of the Ifite-Nteje Development Union had demolished multiple buildings, including a hotel on the Chinua Achebe Airport Road in Ifite-Nteje, which was worth billions of dollars.
Chief Patrick Maduegbuna, the Association’s chairman, pleaded with Governor Chukwuma Soludo to step in and prevent a complete breakdown of law and order. “The transaction occurred in 2019, and the association began developing the location following payment,” he stated.
What they’re saying
“But then they started dismantling our property there, claiming the land purchase had been annulled. They demolished houses, hotels, and other constructions that were nearing completion.
“When we contacted to find out what was wrong, they told us that we had not purchased the land correctly and that we needed to buy it again with more money.
“Rather than attempting to make laws, we chose to protest. There are almost seven estates there.
“All we want is to get our property back.” Mr Nwako Maduka, the Association Secretary, stated that the landlords paid the requisite dues and had the documentation signed by the same persons who were allegedly attempting to rescind the land sold to them legitimately.
Chief Ikechukwu Erikeife, Chairman of the Ifite-Nteje Land Management Committee, stated that some young men who sold their plots were attempting to sell the same land for the second time, and that land grabbing to gain money at any cost was causing uncertainty in Ifite-Nteje.
He stated that the plots of land were purchased by the developers through the proper channels, offering to investigate the problem because the protesters could not afford to purchase the land for the second time.
However, Mr Ngoesina Okechukwu, Secretary of the Ifite-Nteje land management committee, characterised those behind the charges as meddlesome interlopers, saying the Ifite-Nteje community has a way of hoisting leadership in a traditional manner.
Okechukwu, a lawyer, stated that the estate developers followed legal process in acquiring the land from Ifite-Nteje.
What they’re saying
He stated, “I was in Abuja and learned of the protest staged by the opposition, who claimed to be executive members of the Ifite-Nteje Development Union.
“The same group claimed to have abolished the Ifite-Nteje land management committee and annulled the land sold to the landlords’ organisation.
“The Ifite-Nteje land management committee is a body established by the community with power of attorney to sue and be sued. “The court had taken judicial notice of the land committee as representative of Ifite-Nteje, in so many cases, securing judgement for the entire Nteje community,” as he stated.
Final Thought
The destruction of properties, including the Malachy Chukwu hotel, represents a significant economic loss. The demolition of buildings worth billions of dollars can deter future investments and development in the area, impacting the local economy and livelihoods.
