Amaechi Percy Onyejekwe, Awka
Nnobi, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Monday took to the streets in protest against the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
The protesters who carried placards with various inscriptions, lamented that the TCN had marked over one thousand houses in the seven villages that make up Ebenesi, a quarter of Nnobi, adding that the transmission company had given the affected landlords and residents about 14 days’ notice to relocate, failing which the buildings would be demolished.
The protesters who marched the major roads and streets in Nnobi urged President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government and Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo of Anambra State to provide an alternative residential area for them.
Alternative, the residents urged the TCN to reroute the power lines underneath.
Addressing the protesters at the palace, Nnobi, His Royal Majesty Engineer Muodum Nick Obi, represented by the palace Secretary, Chief Obianumba Ajaghaku assured the people that he would relay the request of the Ebenesi people to Governor Soludo adding that he felt the pains of the protesters..
“Nnobi is a densely populated area.There are sparsely populated areas I feel your pains. I will take your request to the Governor”, helsaid.
At the residence of the President General of Nnobi, Chief Olubialu who was flanked by the executives of Nnobi Welfare Organization (NWO), while receiving the protesters, said he had personally discussed the issue with a commissioner in the state. He said that while it was necessary for development not to be overlooked, the matter would be handled carefully given the fact that the Land Use Act places ownership of Land in the hands of the government.
“We cannot overlook development. In one of my discussions with the commissioner, I told him to tell the TCN to come to us for discussion. This TCN line affected half of Awuda community and half of Ebenesi Community. we want development. But we want it in a way it won’t affect our people adversely. It touched you the way it touched us. We shall continue to see the government on the matter in a positive manner because according to the Land Act, the government is the owner of land”, he said.
Chief Patrick Nwayaku, the Chairman of Amadunu, in his remark said the people were pleading with government to know that the marked areas for TCN line were the ancestral home of the people and that it was not previously marked for demolition for TCN line. He said the issue began about fourteen years ago adding that the matter was in court between the community and the TCN
“We are saddened to tell the TCN,, the government and the physical planning board that the affected lands are our ancestral homes. There was never a time it was previously marked for demolition,” Nwayaku said.
Addressing the protesters along Awka-Etiti Road, Governor Soludo’s aide on Youth Reformation, Dr. Nelson Omenugha, said government would look into the grievances of the people.
However, trouble erupted when Omenugha added that development comes with a cost, a statement that irritated the protesters and finally led to a hot exchange of words and blows among the protesters.
Omenugha was quickly rescued by security operatives who led him to his car and he was driven away.
Earlier, the leader of the protesters and Chairman of Ebenesi Community, Chief Ikechukwu Oraka said the TCN had given the affected landlords and residents a short notice of about fourteen days to relocate, stressing that the issue had caused deaths as some people had fallen sick when they learned that their houses were to be demolished for the TCN high tension line. He urged the government to shelve compensation and give people alternative settlements or Urge the TCN to route the line underground .
One of the affected persons, Chief James Okeke among others, said they were not against development in the community rather they were asking for resettlement, not compensation
“We are not saying that government should not bring development. We are saying let it be planned well. Not just to come suddenly to displace us. Let them give us a place to resettle.
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