Trouble In Anambra Community Over Destroyed Property

The feud between Nkwelle-Ezunaka Community and Ebenezer Anglican Church over the ownership of Oyolu Oze Primary School, Oyolu Oze, Nkwelle-Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State worsened yesterday, with both parties making different demands on each other.

Speaking after the general meeting of Nkelle-Ezunaka Community, the President-General, Elder Chris Eluemune, asked the Anglican Communion to immediately halt rebuilding of the school, which sparked off the crisis.
But members of Anglican Communion under Oyi Archdeaconry, who embarked on a protest in their thousands over the demolition, issued a seven-day ultimatum for rebuilding of the school.

However, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has intervened in the crisis, urging the parties to allow a six-man committee he set up to investigate their claims to conclude its assignment and submit a report for the government to act upon.

After a meeting of the community held at Nkwelle Ezuuaka Town Hall, Elder Eluemuno warned the church to stop rebuilding the property or risk the wrath of the community. In spite of the order of the state government that parties should stay further action on the property, he alleged, the Anglican Church was building on the disputed school premises where its members were worshipping.

He denied the involvement of Nkwelle-Ezunaka community in the demolition of the building the church was using for worship in the school premises.
He claimed that the disputed school belonged to the community, saying it was built in 1980 and handed over to Anambra State Government. The Anglican Church, he alleged, started worshiping in the school more than 10 years after it was built.

However, a protest by thousands of Anglican Communion faithful in Oyi Local Government brought human and vehicular movements to a halt and disrupted commercial activities in the area.
The protesters alleged that agents of the state government were involved in the demolition of their place of worship in Oyolu Oze Primary School on August 11, issuing a seven-day ultimatum for the government to rebuild the property.
They also demanded an unreserved apology from the governor for allegedly disallowing them to speak during his visit to the demolished church premises on August 15 and stating that he would relocate them from the premises to another place.

The Anglicans from various dioceses, archdeaconries and parishes in the state, marched to many streets of Onitsha, starting from the All Saints’ Cathedral, Onitsha through Oguta Road, Upper Iweka to Bridge-Head and back to All Saints.

The Archdeacon in charge of Oyi Archdeaconry, Venerable Joseph Nweke, warned that if after the expiration of the ultimatum the government failed to comply with their demands, they would continue to carry out their protests in stages.

But in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Tony Onyima, the government said it has set up a six-man committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke to look into the issue.

The statement read: “The attention of the Anambra State Government has been drawn to the demonstration which took place at Onitsha today (yesterday), August 18, 2014 over ownership of a primary school at Oyolu-Oze, Nkwelle-Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area.

“Government observes that the Nkwelle Ezunaka community and the Anglican Communion are locked in a dispute over the ownership of the said Oyolu-Oze Primary School. On receipt of reports of destruction of property, His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano in company with the Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, visited the school site on Friday, August 17, 2014. His Excellency unequivocally condemned the wanton destruction of property by unknown persons.

“Already, Governor Obiano had set up a six-man committee headed by the deputy governor to investigate the contending issues and submit a report on their findings within two weeks. Government observes that the committee is presently only in the fourth day of its two-week time frame to present a report and calls on all parties to allow peace and due process to reign.”

Assuring the people of its commitment to promotion of justice, peace, fair play and citizen’s right to peaceful protests, the government, however insisted that such must be done in accordance with the law.

Credits: The Sun