Imo elders clash over Uzodimma, Okorocha, as Owerri zone leaders ask Uzodimma to recover their ancestral lands

TRACKING____Imo elders from Owerri zone yesterday, clashed over the ongoing recovery of alleged stolen properties of Imo people from former governor Rochas Okorocha.

While the elders led by Chief Marcus Onwanibe called on Governor Hope Uzodimma not to resort to self-help in the recovery of the said properties as the matter was still in court, leaders of thought from Owerri zone led by Chief Henry Njoku and Prince Alex Mbata called on Uzodimma to recover their ancestral lands hijacked from them.

Speaking, Onwanibe, said: “Our attention has been drawn to a press statement purported to have emanated from a meeting of a group that tagged itself, Owerri zone leaders of thought few days ago.

“After we had extensively and objectively x-rayed the stand of those who met in the name of ‘Owerri zone leaders of thought and the current situation in the state’, we resolved as follows:

“That, His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma and his government should pursue peace and ensure peace and avoid any action that is capable of disturbing or distorting the peace of the state.

“That the governor should shun any advice to resort to self-help or unconventional methods in resolving the issues with the former governor of the state, His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

“That, we are aware that matters concerning Senator Okorocha and the reports of the panels vis-à-vis the whitepaper are all pending in various courts of our land. It is therefore very important and advisable to allow the courts to decide on the issues before them. That is the most civilized thing to do. Any other approach is self-help and should not be encouraged.

“That those who think they have any evidence against Okorocha should either apply to the courts to be joined or appear as witnesses to the matters in question instead of advocating and calling for actions that could throw the state into an unimaginable crisis.”

Earlier, stakeholders from Owerri zone had met and issued a communique to newsmen as signed by Chief Henry Njoku, Prince Alex Mbata, Imo lawmakers and traditional rulers.

The communique read: “We hereby wholeheartedly, affirm and endorse the resolutions of Imo stakeholders held on Saturday 27February , 2021. We are happy with the development so far recorded by the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma who has in a short time restored the pride of our people by the the recovery of the state and indigenous lands illegally hijacked and appropriated by yesterday’s men of power who ruled us wickedly.

“We support every policy of Governor Hope Uzodimma, particularly full implementation of the white paper on lands to recover our common patrimony, more so when the land in our state capital is acquired by the state government.

“We urge all Owerri people to support and continue in solidarity with Governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration,” they said.