Posted by The Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, MOUAU, has come under fire from the Okwu Olokoro autonomous community in Umuahia South LGA of Abia State for reportedly plotting to seize their farmlands without following the proper procedures.
Additionally, they have argued that the community and university management do not share the same views regarding the acquisition of their property for any use or purpose.
The residents of Okwu Olokoro issued a statement under the signature of Chief Uzodinma Egere, President General of the autonomous community, warning that they would not stand by while the institution took control of their sole means of subsistence.
They made a plea to the Abia State government to quickly order the University to order since, according to the statement, the lands in question are essential to the Okwu people’s life and well-being.
We are aware that the University is making covert and hasty attempts to forcibly seize our properties without following the proper procedures, and this portends danger and a purposeful attempt to undermine the peace in our country.
The neighborhood made note of the several fruitless meetings it had with Michael Okpara University and how it had been eagerly awaiting new developments in the negotiations—actions that never materialized.
Uzodinma Egere continued, “But shockingly, we have learned that the University is making urgent attempts to unilaterally and wantonly complete the takeover of both our environment and farmlands with force.
The Okwu Olokoro people claimed that the Abia State government’s involvement and the University of Agriculture’s suspension of activity would “nip the looming danger in the bud.”
The charges from Okwu Olokoro come two months after a protest was organized by some women from Uzi-Amizi, an Olokoro autonomous community, who claimed MOUAU was encroaching on their territory.
When speaking to the media about the land issue, HRH Eze Cyril Ogbenna, the traditional ruler of Uzi-Amizi, stated that he was aware of the protest by women in his village.
Attempts to reach the administration of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, failed because the university’s public relations officer, Adanma Odefa, stated that she was not authorized to speak on the subject but promised to get back to the reporter.
She did not respond to any of the three messages sent to her Whatsapp number, despite repeated attempts to contact her.
She did not return calls placed to her after that.