– Faults Gov’s Position As Commissioner For Lands
Dr Fabian Ihekweme, a former Commissioner in the Uzodinma administration has opened a can of worms in respect of the multiple allegations of fraud allegedly perpetrated in the Ministry of Lands currently presided over by Governor Uzodinma, as Commissioner.
Ihekweme, in an article captioned, “REFUND IMO PEOPLE’S LAND ALLOCATION MONEY OR RELEASE THE ALLOCATED LANDS TO THEM – IHEKWEME ADVISES IMO STATE GOVERNMENT”, stated that, “It is no more news that Governor Hope Uzodinma is the current Imo State Commissioner for Lands, an aberration in a transparent administrative lexicon. Yet, in 2023, his government directed the Ministry of Lands to advertise for Land Allocation. Many Nigerians particularly Imo Citizens subscribed and bought Land Forms which ranged from N100,000 to N500,000 per plot of land. Over 120,000 Citizens purchased the land forms hoping that through the Ministry of Lands; allocation of plots will be made; conservatively. Over Twelve billion Naira (N12,000,000,000 Naira) that was raised is yetto be accounted for by Imo State Government. The unsuspecting citizens transferred their hard earned money into United Bank of Africa (UBA) accounts and other bank accounts provided by Imo State Government, but as soon as, the advertisement for land allocation advertisement ended, concocted fairytale stories emanated from the pit of hell. The rest is history.
“Imo people are still waiting for either the allocated plots of land or their money. The question is, when will the state government refund monies paid by over 120,000 citizens who applied for the advertised land allocations, their monies which were paid into the Imo State Government UBA accounts and the Ministry of Lands Accounts, or have the funds been swallowed by snakes and rats in the Pentagon House? It is ironic that Chief Sam Mbakwe never became the Commissioner of Lands. It’s ironic that Chief Evan Ewerem never became Commissioner of Lands. It’s ironic that neither Gov. Achike Udenwa, Gov. Emeka Ihedioha nor Gov. Ikedi Ohakim became Commissioners of Lands during their time as Governors. It’s ironic too, that even Gov. Rochas Okorocha who was accused of land grabbing when he was the Governor, never became Commissioner for Lands. Currently, the Ministry of Lands in Imo State is “Under Lock and Key”, now in a state of lockdown, as the Governor, who is currently the Commissioner for Lands in Imo State is behaving like the Biblical King Ahab that was endowed with primitive accumulation, even when he owned almost everything including Lands in Israel but grabbed “Naboth’s only Vineyard” because it was within his domain, as King of Israel: “A Case of Absolute Power Corrupts.
Absolutely.” The unsuspecting citizens of Imo State who paid for Land Forms under Governor Uzodinma have lost both their lands and money. Can anyone with a discerning mind inform me: Why is there this level of administrative wickedness in Imo State? Shouldn’t the government refund Imo citizens their hard earned money?
Does it mean that none of the Governor’s appointees should be able to own a plot of land or build a house in Imo State under his watch? I am flabbergasted. On the other hand, like King Ahab, the husband of Jezebel, the king of Israel that wickedly took Naboth’s vineyard, the man in question has also gone out of his way to forcefully grab Lands, to build his new Castle(s) in Imo State, unknown to most citizens of Imo, whose money for land allocation, he has seized or confiscated and refuses to refund under some surreptitious allegations. When will the money collected for land allocation forms be refunded to Imo citizens? it is therefore wise to say, “Buyer, Beware”.
Let me put it on record, that I didn’t refer to the Governor or any other person as Anti-Christ. I only explained the activities of some of our leaders including him as depicting the characteristics of an Anti-Christ.
There are certain things that I find difficult to believe in the last five years of the life of this administration. No member of the House of Assembly, no Commissioner or Special Adviser both former and current had been given any allocation to erect even a boy’s quarter anywhere. Those who were able to struggle to own one, were tagged criminals. Some were even detained on mere trumped up charges and gossip.
Civil Servants don’t have any low-cost housing anywhere built by this administration to alleviate their sufferings. If you bring a proposal that should be for the larger interest and benefit of Imo people, the Governor won’t allow it to fly simply because he feels one or two Imo people will make some money out of it. A lot of Imo people who brought expatriates and foreign investors for developmental projects were disgraced in the presence of their visitors. The white men will spend weeks in the hotel and dismiss themselves without seeing the Governor. The truth is that anybody with this kind of mindset in dealing with his people, is nothing but an Anti-Christ.
I plead with the Governor to kindly return home and start afresh by addressing critical governmental issues and challenges. He still has the opportunity to stabilize his government and carve a legacy for himself. The Governor should shun primitive acquisition of wealth and get serious with governance. I am Omu, I do not dislike the Governor. He is my friend and leader. If I don’t tell him the truth, the Supreme God will not be kind to me on the judgment day. And the gods will not be fair to me because they know that I am the only remaining Ancient Seer. Let’s avoid the antecedents of an Anti-Christ”.
