Nimo community leaders in Anambra State’s Njikoka Local Government Area have disowned ladies who demonstrated against them at the state Government House on Wednesday.
The women, who were accompanied by some young males, said that community leaders were being overbearing, and they threatened to stage a nude protest if state governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo did not listen to their complaints.
However, in a press statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Clems Ezedinachi, the leadership of Nimo Town Development Union (NTDU), the apex organisation of the town, labelled the demonstrators as “hired elements.”
From the statement: “We desire to let it be known that those behind the protest are a few elements in the town who are upset that the administration of Nimo issues is no longer business as usual.
Please note that our traditional leader is in no way connected to this property sale. The responsibilities of the palace and the town union in Nimo are the same as those outlined under the Anambra State Law.
Years ago, the Nimo General Assembly authorised the charting and sales of sections of Owa Land, which is currently being carried out by a committee of qualified people.
The proceeds from the sales will be used to fund the current operations of the Civic Centre as well as future improvements to the municipality. However, these ungrateful people would want a community land to be split individually so that they can use the money to pursue their pet projects.
The community’s officials also noted that the majority of protesters were young people upset over losing the ability to tax property developers.
“It is a fact that youth restiveness is now the norm in many communities where they have become a law unto themselves and dictating to people who build houses how much to pay them,” the statement continued.
The government’s rallying cry for citizens to come home and build the state will be hurt by this.
Therefore, “we apologise once more to the state government for the continuing embarrassment caused by these pernicious elements who are part of the problems being experienced by many communities.”
