By Ifeizu Joe
Indigenes of Nkitaku village in Agulu community in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State have protested against Mr Damian Obi, over the demolition of 10 newly constructed shops at Nkwo Agulu market.
The villagers during the protest said Damian, immediate elder brother of African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential hopeful, Mr Peter Obi, had barred the villagers from constructing the shops, which were close to his house, but later demolished them after there were constructed.
The chairman of Nkitaku village, Mr Emegommuo Basil Ekene who led youths of the village in a protest said Damian who is from Amatutu village bought a parcel of land in Nkitaku where he built his house, and later appealed to them to leave an open space close to his house to serve as packing lot, but they refused.
He said: “We are here to protest so that the whole world will hear us. We have issues with our brother, Damian Obi, who is not our village member. We sold land to him about 10 years ago and he built and lived here, but he has been having problems with him because he wants to take our land.
“He first said he wanted us to give him an open land adjacent his house for parking space for his visitors, but we told him it is not part of his land. This is the fourth time he is destroying our property. Our paper is with the Anambra State Physical Planning Board.
“We are not building illegally, that is why we are pleading with Governor Chukwuma Soludo to come to our aide. This is intimidation.”
The shops which were being erected through community efforts to expand Nkwo Agulu market, are also meant accommodate traders who were being quitted from Nwagu Market, situated along a busy road.
One of the investor, Mr Frank Anyaeche, a former president of Association of Anambra People in South Africa decried the intimidation, saying this was happening at a time when the state government was asking people to come home and invest.
He said: “We heard that our people were being asked to come home and invest and to our greatest surprise, this is what they are doing to our investments. How can this convince other people to come home and invest. They came under the cover of the night to demolish this, and when our security came they ran away and we confiscated their Monday hammer.
Youths of the village who participated in the protest wielded placards with several inscriptions. They included: Damian Obi demolished Agulu people’s sweat, Soludo come and help Agulu people, Damian Obi is evil, Damian Obi leave Nkitaku land alone, God will judge you, among others.
When THE RAZOR visited Damian’s home just beside the demolished building for reactions, it was learnt that he was not at home. Mr Valentine Obienyem the Media adviser to Mr Peter Obi, brother to Damian however told journalists he was not aware and not in a position to react.
