The traditional ruler of Nkaleke Echara Unuphu Autonomous Community, in Ebonyi Local Government Area, Eze Sunday Oketa has debunked allegation of land grabbing in Oroke- Onuoha Village as contained in an online publication as false and handiwork of enemies of future generations and peaceful coexistence in the area.
Eze Oketa stated that those who are spare heading the alleged protest as contained in the publication which are Ogobuchi Ibina, Ogbuogu Emmanuel and Mmaduabuchi Nwibo have sold out all the lands that belong to their parents and started pressurizing the village leadership to share the remaining village land so that they could sell same; in which the village leadership opposed resulting to the alleged protest.
He also emphasized that some of them have sold land given to them for residential purpose and returned to their fathers compound which is a taboo in Izhi custom and tradition, facts Eze Oketa said are verifiable.
Eze Oketa further stressed that he has never sold any land belonging to himself, the once inherited from his parents or even the one that belongs to the village saying that the facts are verifiable.
The traditional ruler who is also the President General Oha-Izhi Nnodo further stressed that he has been at the forefront of the enlightenment for the stoppage of indiscriminate sale of land in Izhi clan and wonder why he should be accused of grabbing and selling lands.
Eze Oketa expressed dismay that some youths does not want to engage in meaningful ventures such as learning of trade and farming, rather prefers selling of land and squandering the proceeds which he said breeds laziness and crime.
He stated that he, together with leadership of the village provides lands for widows and the less privileged once among them for farming purpose and doesn’t support selling of land.
The traditional leader expressed the need for the people of Orokeonuoha village and Izhi clan in general to desist from selling of lands inorder to guarantee places where future generations of Izhi clan would reside.
He further thanked the state Governor Chief Francis Nwifuru for always supporting the traditional institutions in Izhi clan especially in the area of peace and development.
Eze Oketa finally states that he is ready at any point in time to prove his innocence in all these allegations and challenged those mentioned in the report to provide evidence of such grabbing and sales.
On youth election, Eze Oketa said that the youths of Orokeonuoha village has never met him as the traditional ruler of Nkaleke Echara community that they wanted to conduct election and he refused stating that he doesn’t decide issue of the youths when he was not reported to.
Eze Sunday Oketa therefore enjoined the people of Orokeonuoha, Nkaleke Echara Unuphu community and the general public to disregard the publication as they are all false aimed at tarnishing his good image.