Nimo Women Protest, Accuse Monarch Of Land Grabbing
…Begs Soludo to dethrone him
By Felix Udodirim ,Awka
The women of Nimo in Njikoka local Government Area of Anambra state in their numbers yesterday, flooded Anambra state government House in peaceful protest over harassment , intimidation and illegal grabbing of their lands by the traditional Ruler of the community, HRH Igwe Maxi Oliobi.
The women also accused the monarch of false labelling of the youths as kidnappers, cultists as well as other flagrant abuse of traditional stool.
The protesters carried placards of various inscriptions which reads: “We need peace in Nimo” We are tired of Igwe Oliobi’ intimidations, false accusations” “Nimo community supported Governor Soludo, this is time to reciprocate our support” “Igwe Maxi Ike Oliobi must go” among others .
The leader of the protesters, Mrs Chizoba Stella Odili in her presentation to the Governor’s representatives asked the governor to come to their rescue in Nimo before ones man’s interest triggers more crisis.
Odill, in her appeal said : “We are the women of Nimo community. We are law abiding citizens and strong adherents to the rule of law and order. We make these demands which we also bring by ourselves to you to buttress their
importance. We hope that they will receive your urgent attention and immediate consideration.
“We appeal to your good office Sir, to call to order our traditional ruler, lgwe Maxi Oliobi, over his
insistence that a peaceful town like Nimo community, will no longer know peace during his reign.
“The confusion he has brought into the community has lingered for over four years now.
The lgwe has consistently abused our traditional stool by using his position and office to intimidate and harass his subjects-we ,the women, our husbands and sons.
“We are appalled by the set of actions he continues to take with every sense of arrogance; using
his security operatives to create fear and unease in the entire Nimo community. Thus causing serious problems and social unrest in Nimo.
The listed land usurpation, false accusation, vandalisation of government properties in Nimo as some reasons for their protest and SOS demands.
The protest letter reads in part: “lgwe Maxi Oliobi, Owele Nimo forcefully usurped our farm lands using his position, and with the
help of his security operatives intimidated us to total submission. This is the same way he treats people he does business with or employed their services. He always flogs them, and intimidate them with heavy threats when they demand for their rights.
“lgwe Maxi Oliobi uses his position to grab and sell our farm lands with his cohorts, for their selfish interests, especially those at Owa, Owe and others. Thus denying us our rights and opportunities to farm those lands.
“He destroyed our farm crops without any recourse to any form
of compensation, in the guise that he is developing the lands, even without the approval of Nimo
people. Grabbing and selling of these lands is causing serious problems in Nimo today.
“Despite the commotion about this illegal acquisition and sales of people’s land, they are still insisting on continual selling of the lands.
“The lgwe has severally abused the rights of our sons and husbands, by writing several petitions
against them to the police anti cult units, the DSS, NSCDC. On several occasions, husbands and children have been locked up in police cells, falsely labelled as cultists, kidnappers, miscreants, and terrorists. He is in court with some of them as at today on false
accusations.
“The lgwe sent his men to vandalize government water reticulation installations in Nirno
excavated and carted away the steel pipes, dismantled and removed the water pumps and
power generation engines. These items are no where to be found.
There is no hope for us to have and enjoy government public pipe borne water in Nimo again. This unbelievable act from an lgwe has caused the State Government billions in financial losses.
found today.
“He halted some individually initiated development projects that were brought to Nimo, stopped Mr. Paul Chidozie (PCC) from installing solar lights along Oye Nimo axis of Neni
“He also stopped the construction of the road that traverses his Compound which Chief Emeka Chinweokwu (Obiadada Nimo) begged to do. He has by this discouraged our people from takine
up developmental projects and will rather prefer that the money is brought to him for a Chieftaincy title and awards he gives out anyhow to undeserving individuals without regards to the provisions of our constitution.
“Igwe Maxi Oliobi, Owelle Nimo has caused serious problems in Nimo that the people of Nimo, especially, we the women folk have lost confidence in him.
There’s no guarantee of the safety of our lives and sources of livelihood under his reign. Equally, there’s no guarantee that Nimo will ever have peace and
development under his reign”
The therefore appealed for Governor’s intervention to avoid total break down of law and order in Nimo community.
Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo who spoke through the Secretary to the state Government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu and commisioner for local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chuks Collins Nwabunwanne adviced the women to keep calm even as they promised to call for a round table meeting to resolve the issue .
