Relative peace has returned to Nando, Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra state following appointment of Sir Anthony-Mary Amali led-caretaker committee to pilot affairs of Nando Development Union (NDU) for three months.
Youths of the community,Blueprint learnt, had been on demonstration for almost one week following alleged selling of some parcel of lands at Abube uno, Amajana, Ama-ogwene (Akamu n’ato) to some politicians and herdsmen. The issue did not only paralised the town’s economic activities but also affected their peace, leading to invitation of some law enforcement agents to quell peace.
The wife of Anambra state governor, Chief Ebelechukwu Obiano, was also accused of buying some lands from the community through one Chief Leo Ogbuefi, who is an indigene of Nando and a Chief Administrative Officer in the Government House.
Amidst the controversy, the executive of NDU led by Chief Ignatius Aghadiuno as President General was dissolved even as a letter signed by Hon. Greg Obi, Anambra state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs appointed Amali as President General and Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu as Secretary General of a caretaker excutive charged with responsibility resolving the conflict, reconciliation and electing new executive.
The development was greeted with happiness and celebration by some elders, youths and Ndi Ojiani age grade (most senior age grade), who stormed Nkwo Nando market square with placards of different inscriptions to welcome the new executive.
Speaking at the occasion, 75-year-old Chief Obukwelu Ikeora from Isi-Inyi Nando, commended the state government for coming to their rescue, insisting that they would rally round them to organise and entrench democratically elected NDU executive.
Ikeora, while exonerating Governor Willie Obiano and his wife from the land acquisition allegations, invoked curses on those, who according to him, were stirring the peace of the community.
On his part, the National Youth Leader of Nando, Mr Donatus Ajamma, expressed displeasure over the crises and allegations, and enjoined the community to support the new leadership and Anambra state government for peace and more government presence.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, the President General of Nando Development Union Caretaker Committee, Sir. Anthony-Mary Amali, dismissed allegations of selling of lands to Governor Willie Obiano’s wife, describing it as unsubstantiated allegation aimed at tarnishing her image and that of their son, Hon. Ogbuefi.
According to Amali, as an Ogbunike born daughter of their matriarch named Iguedo, the governor’s wife need not to hide under any guise to acquire land title from Nando if she so desires.
He observed that governor Obiano has shown special affection to the natives through the N20 million community infrastructure (Choose-Your-Community Project), in addition to construction of roads traversing Ikem – Nando – SARS Awkuzu; Nado – Igbozunu – Aguleri – Achalla – Igbariam road.
“On Monday, some miscreants were hired and mobilized to the Nando market to disrupt the peace of the community which paralyzed business activities, carrying fake news insinuating that governor Obiano’s wife and our son (Ogbuefi) were involved in land deals. We apologize to two of them for the public outburst,” he said.
The new President-General thanked his community for the show of solidarity, assuring that his executive would engender relative peace and unity, as well as stop any unauthorized sale of land in the community.
