Igbos in Kogi protest illegal sale of community plot

Igbo Community Association (ICA) Kogi state has appealed to the governor of the state Alhaji Yahaya Bello to use his good offices to recover the official documents authorizing the ownership of the two hectares of land donated to it by the government of Alhaji Ibrahim Idrls to build the Igbo comprehensive college at Zangon daji along Lokoja – Okene road.

President General of the association Capt. Maximus Okochi (rtd) who made the appeal on Thursday in Lokoja said since the allocation was granted and necessary documents received, Chief Okwonkwo Achinivu, the immediate past president general has refused to hand over the documents of the property four years after he left office.

He explained that despite series of communications by community leaders and Counsels, Chief Achinivu remained adamant and instead embarked on clandestine activities to disorganise the united, peaceful and progressive Igbo community in the state.

To buttress his point, Capt. Okochi alleged that his predecessor in desperation to cause disunity among the members attempted to impeach the present executive committee and replace them with his stooges who will not be able to ask for the property in dispute.

According to Okochi the former president general has refused to listen to the elders’ forum of the association who had severally advised and warned him against his disintegration plan.

He equally alleged that trespassers have started erecting structures on the land in question without the consent of the association. “We are suspecting foul play as rumours are making the rounds that the land might have been sold to some yet to be identified persons, while others allege that the land has been mortgaged for a bank loan.”

“He wanted me to be a tool of vengeance against Chief D. S. Inyama, the former president of Igbo communities in the 19 northern states. Okey Umeh, Donatus Emeghabo, Hon A. O. Obi and Mr. Ben Iyke Nweke who are all members of the elders’ forum of the Igbo community association,” Capt Okochi lamented.

Having failed woefully to discredit the executive, Achinivu was said to .be making frantic efforts to be corroborated as the Eze Ndigbo of Lokoja which was roundly rejected by the elders and the youth.

Another atrocity the president alleged Achinivu committed was the extortion of the all Igbos resident in Lokoja of N2000.00each to run the Igbo comprehensive college only for him to handover a debt of N145,000 unpaid salary of teachers. He added the community had to pay the teachers through another contribution.

The Igbo community called on the governor to intervene in the spirit of the new direction agenda of the administration redeem thru Igbo people from hands of those who believe in impunity.”We are pleading with the governor to order for a thorough investigation into the matter.

Reacting to the allegations levelled against him, Surv Okoronkwo Achinivu explained that the land at Zango was a private donation to the Igbo community association by the former governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, to build the Igbo Comprehensive College in Lokoja.

He claimed that it was not an allocation from the Kogi state government, pointing out that he even took Capt. Okochi and members of his cabinet round the two hectares of land for them to see for themselves.

“If I had intention of seizing Igbo Community land I will not have taken that step and would not have submitted the survey plan,” Mr. Achinivu stated.

He explained further that as at the time he handed over to Capt. Okochi the only document that was available was the survey plan which said was commissioned at the cost of N362,000,00 being the cost processing the document.

Achinivu promised to submit the documents of the land to Capt Okochi at a general meeting to clear his name that is about to be tarnished.