Nsulu Stakeholders Forum, NSF, has said that Governor Alex Otti of Abia State is not above court, hence he must obey an order of the state High Court sitting in Okpuala Ngwa, which ordered the state government to stay further action over its plan to seize over 1350 hectares of land belonging to some Nsulu communities in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state for the proposed Abia airport project.
The Nsulu communities are Ikputu, Umuikeocha Umuode, Umuezeukwu, Umuogu, Uwaomaikoo Umuosu, Umuata Umuosu, Umule Umuosu, Okpulorukwu Umuosu, Umuogele Umuosu, Umuodeche, Ubaha, Umuala, Umuezenta Nbawsi, Mbubo and Umuomainta Nbawsi, being owners of the hectares of land sought to be seized for the the new proposed ‘Abia Airport Project.’
NSF in statement by its Convener, Mazi Chigoram, said that the trial judge in the matter, Justice Enyinnaya Okezie, had on December 20, 2024, made the order, following the suit by representatives of the communities.
“At the hearing in the suit No. HIN/62/2024, Chukwuemeka Nwaogu, appeared for the claimants, while C. Ogwo, acting Director, Civil Litigation Department, Abia State Ministry of Justice, Umuahia appeared for the respondents.
“Justice Okezie had ordered, ‘It is hereby ordered as follows: That C.O. Ogwo undertakes that action in respect of the subject matter in this suit shall be stayed till the motion on notice is determined.’
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“NSF notes that Governor Otti is not above the law or court order, as any order made by a court of competent jurisdiction must be obeyed. Otti only enjoys immunity and that does not grant him power to go against a clear order of court.
“The acting Director, Civil Litigation Department in the state, represented the governor and other defendants in the matter. The state and the governor of his agents must not be allowed to go against the court order.
“The affected Nsulu communities are challenging the desperate attempt to take over their land and have taken the matter to court. The governor cannot sit at Government House and disobey a court order.
“We also find it offensive that the Otti government went into the land to cut paths, despite the clear order of the court staying action in the matter.
“We have it also on good authority that while the affected communities have been peaceful and looking forward to the matter being determined by the court, Otti’s Special Assistant on Lands and Housing and Project Coordinator of Abia Airport Project, Pastor Okorougo Aji has been busy calling for all sorts of meeting with community village heads, compound heads and others, the latest being the one slated for February 6, 2025, at Government House.
“We find it also offensive that the Abia State government will invite communities it is plotting to seize their lands to a meeting at Government House.
“We also find it strenge that the Otti government wants to take 1350 hectares of our land, mostly from poor village folks, most of who depend on the land to feed and take care of their families for not just the airport, but also for a five star hotel, school and housing estate, which are all private concerns.
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“We are not opposed to President Bola Tinubu airstrip planned for the state, but an Airport cannot be sited in a heavily populated community, without consideration of its Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA and our buildings being marked for demolition with our ancestral homes, shrines, churches and natural features and their forefathers’ graves being marked with our only sources of livelihood (small farm lands) less than 2km being purportedly marked for Airport project while other suitable areas had already been acquired from the same people by previous administration.
“We also note that in 2015 and 2022, the government of Abla State under Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, came up with the idea of building an Airport for Abia State and in this regard, acquired an expanse of land spanning to Umuode Nsulu, Ikputu Nsulu, Umuodeche Nsulu, Umuogu and Umuezeukwu Nsulu, etcetera in Isiala Ngwa North. Much of the land belonged to our people and voluntarily given up by them, wherein C of O was issued by the Abia State Government and approval issued from the office of the Ministry of Aviation for the building of the Abia Airstrip.
“This vast area of land is still acquired, and largely uninhabited, and if the governor wants to build an International Airport, this land is still available for use by the governor, and is most appropriate due to its zero percent on the EIA.
“We can also confirm that from the proposed place Otti is desperately trying to take at all cost it is in between many densely populated communities. The airport will be some meters away from villagers homes and we believe that for a project of such magnitude, a comprehensive EIA, must first be conducted to know the impact on the lives of the people in the communities.
“This is the first time in the history of airport project in Nigeria that an airport is being proposed for a densely populated area, where the communities would be meters away from the airport.
“We appreciate our communities being considered for a federal project, it must, however, not be one that will leave the people without a place to live and farm.
“We call on Governor Otti to go back to the place secured by former governor Ikpeazu and not displace Nsulu people from their homes and farms.”
