By Hyginus Mgharamike, Owerri
A long settled landlordship tussle of the Orlu Local Government Headquarters and its surroundings among the Umuna, Amaifeke and Úlú-Nwafó (Orlu) autonomous communities, has again resurfaced, but this time around, it seems the Umuna ancient community, (Uzoubi-Umuna and Umuna Autonomous communities), through their Clan Central body, UCDA, is poised to stamp feet in the grounds for legal confrontations.
This is coming at the heels of a recent claim and counter claim by both Amaifeke autonomous community through their Apex body, Amaifeke Progressive Assembly, APA, and the former PG of Úlú-Nwafó (Orlu), Chief Eddy Olumba, that the land housing the government Secretariat belongs to them.
But in a swift reaction over the week, the Umuna Clan Development Assembly, UCDA, in a Press Conference with journalists and media advertorials, cautioned both communities to stop brewing troubles.
Umuna Clan insisted that the Orlu Local Government Secretariat which is located in "Ugwu Nwapali" is on their land, explaining that it was a long settled matter in court.
Umuna threatened to challenge any other claimant of the land in courts, even as jt stated that the matter had been long closed and settled that it owned the land.
Read full statement....
PRESS STATEMENT
ORLU LOCAL GOVERNMENT HEADQUATERS IS SITUATE ON UMUNA LAND. AMAIFEKE, ÚLÚ-NWAFÓ SHOULD STOP BREWING TROUBLES.
THIS IS A PRESS STATEMENT BY THE UMUNA CLAN DEVELOPMENT ASSEMBLY, UCDA, ON THIS DATE, 13TH OF MAY, 2025.
Ladies and gentlemen of the press,
Our attention was recently drawn to some reckless, careless and tactless statements credited to the Chairman of Orlu Local Government Area on one side, and the former President-General of Úlú-Nwafó (Orlu) autonomous community on the other, both allegedly making claims of the landlordship of the Orlu Local Government Council Secretariat at Ugwu Nwapali, in Umuna.
For purposes of emphasis, we as a united people of Umuna and Uzoubi-Umuna autonomous communities, under the Umuna Clan body, would have ignored these rantings, but for the sake of our younger generation who may wish to be clarified to, the boundary histories of their communities.
The "Ugwu Nwapali", as it was then called before the arrival of the Colonial Masters, was the vast land today habouring the entire Orlu Hotels, NEPA Office, NITEL, former Ministry of Works/UBA, Orlu Council Secretariat, the Red Cross building area called Nkwú ító Roundabout, and down to the All Saints Anglican Church land sold to the Old Anglican Diocese of Nkwerre by the Ewuru family of Okwurodu-na-Idiaro, Amaoji village, Uzoubi-Umuna, for the development of the church for the distant Ofeke people known today as Amaifeke.
Umuna is bounded with Úlú-Nwafó from the wall of Orlu Hotels Limited down to the Cheshire Home from where there was a track road leading to the Shrine still known today as Ogidi Umuna. The Ogidi deity situates at the beautiful spring behind the Cheshire Home, is still recognized till date, as the Head of Deities around Orlu. This is why Umuna still collects all land development levies around the Orlu Hotels till date.
As at today, Umuna Ancient community still has its own Health Centre built and located behind Board of Internal Revenue office, downhill the road leading to the Cheshire Home, and there has been no dispute about the owners of that land, even as various governments had at one time or another made some renovations on the Health Centre to reflect the Council's management.
Since all verifiable and certified records can attest that the land habouring the All Saints Anglican Church belonged to Umuna, and those of Orlu Hotels too, one then wonders where those making claims of landlordship of the Council Headquarters got their information from, or are they merely trying to test our resolve whether not as still that great and united Odududike who had fought wars, conquered Egbendu, and still ready to fight again?
This is therefore, sending as a warning, and a call for caution, to our sister communities of Amaifeke and Úlú-Nwafó (Orlu), to desist from making unguarded statements likely to re-igniting the already dead fire of crises and skirmishes of past generations, as we are still ready, and ever capable of fighting with our last bloods, to defend our natural territories.
We also consider it insensitive, inconsiderate and thoughtless for these two communities to reinvent this long settled topic at this time of a fragile peace in our area. Our hospitality and friendly dispositions as a people should not be misconstrued for docility.
We are of the strongest belief, that these land issues had long been settled by our forefathers. It is not necessary to re-litigate these issues but if our sister communities think otherwise, please let them be ready to be our guests in courts.
Enough of the provocations!
Finally, we wish to send our warmest appreciations to His Excellency, the Executive Governor Of Imo State, Distinguished Sen. Hope Uzodinma for his massive infrastructural developments going on in the entire Orlu LGA. We thank you, our God-sent Governor.
As modest and unassuming people of the capital town of Orlu LGA, and the commercial heartbeat of Orlu zone, we genuinely welcome all to our land, while hoping and praying that our visitors do not destroy the landlords, and when going home, do not catch hunchbacks.
Thank you and God bless you for your time.
Signed:
1. Barr. H. I MbachuC, hairman, BOT-UCDA.
2. Prof. Bede DuruP, resident-General, UCDA
3. Mr. Wisdom Eshiaso, PG, Umuna Autonomous Community.
4. Engr. Pastor Cammy Okafor, PG, Uzoubi-Umuna Autonomous Community.
5. Mr. Joseph Duruh, Apex Youth Leader, UCDA
6. Prof. Mike Okoro (Former Sec-Gen, Old Umuna Town Union)
7. Comrd. Chinedu Ogubuike, PG, UCDA-Abuja
8. Dr. F. O Agunenye (Ayeye) UCDA-USA
9. Chief Allen Charles Nnadi, UCDA-Europe
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