The Coordinator of Echiaba Development Centre, Prince Friday Oketa has debunked allegation of land grabbing and hijacking of youth leadership in Orokeonuoha village describing it as handiwork of some youths who are jobless and enemies of the present administration in the state.
Prince Friday Oketa stated this in a press briefing in Abakaliki over an online publication which allegedly stated that the youths of Orokeonuoha village accused him and his father Eze Sunday Oketa of land grabbing, sales and refusing to conduct youth leadership election in the village.
Prince Oketa emphasized that he has never sold any village land stressing that many youths of the village sees sale of land as occupation thereby discouraging them from learning trade and even furthering their education, saying such act is detrimental to the growth and development of the village and encouraged them to desist from crime as the present administration cannot tolerate ineptitude and laziness.
Prince Oketa went ahead to advise them to be patient and not be envious saying for the youths to allege that all government benefits ends in his family is a clear prove of jealousy and encouraged them to continue to support the present administration in the state.
On the issue of hijacking the youth leadership of the village, Echiaba Development Centre Coordinator explained that the village has an impending court case and such should not conduct election to avoid contempt of court since the case is between a family and the entire village leadership.
On embezzlement of money generated from power of attorney and renting of apartments in the village hall, Prince Oketa stated that Orokeonuoha village have a bank account where all village funds are remitted and it is being handled by the executive of the village, where neither him nor his father are signatories.
Prince Oketa who is also the Chairman Coordinators Forum, Ebonyi North Zone advised the general public to disregard such publication as it emanates from those who are not just jobless but frustrated after selling all the lands that belongs to them and their families want to also be allotted share from the village land reserved for farming and for the future generations.
He further encouraged the youths of Echiaba Development Centre and Oroke-Onuoha Village to be law abiding as the present administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru doesn’t toy with peace, hence the peace and security being enjoyed in all parts of the state.
On his part, the traditional ruler of Nkaleke Echara Unuphu community, Eze Sunday Oketa said it is quite unfortunate that youths of these days resort to falsehood and irresponsibility instead of embarking on meaningful ventures and wondered how he as the President of foremost Izzi socio-cultural organization, Oha Izhi Nnodo Clan, who campaigns against indiscriminate sale of lands in Izzi clan should be the one grabbing and selling people’s land pointing that all of them are fallacy and activities of those who are being sponsored to destroy his good reputation and that of his family and enjoined the general public to disregard the publications.