By Kelechi Ugo.
The long awaited rehabilitation and modernization of Orie-Ogbaku Market in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State may soon kick-off as the leaders of Ezumezu Ogbaku on Thursday 28th March,2024 held an emergency meeting and unanimously gave nod to the project.
Recall that Ezumezu Ogbaku General Assembly was given birth by the defunct Ogbaku Progressive Union formed in 1943,an association formed to administer common services of the entire 18 villages of the old Ogbaku ancient kingdom,now bulkanized into 4 autonomous communities.
Evidently, Ezumezu Ogbaku was registered with Corporate Affairs Commission and has been holding sway and taking centre-stage in administering common services of the 4 autonomous communities created from the old Ogbaku ancient kingdom by the then Governor Achike Udenwa of Imo State in the year 2000 which include; Ogbaku,Isi-Ogbaku,Ogbujioma-Ogbaku and Okwu-Ogbaku.
Meanwhile,this newspaper gathered that several arrangements have been made where the 4 traditional rulers,Cocars Ind.Coy Ltd(Developer) and former Sole Administrator,Hon. Hamilton Chinasa Opara were involved so as to enable the Developer kick-start the project,but could not successfully go down with the interest of the traditional ruler of Ogbaku Autonomous Community,HRH Eze Benedict Agu Onyeanwu who solely laid ownership claim of the Market.
While, written Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the 4 communities of old Ogbaku,Cocars Ind. Coy Ltd and Mbaitoli Local Government Area on basis of sharing formula of the shops upon completion has been signed by 3 monarchs,while someone from Nsokpo Ogbaku signed for Eze Onyeanwu.
Before now, history had it that all the immovable asserts of the old Ogbaku ancient kingdom still belong to the 18 villages of the Clan as the purpose for the bulkanization of the Ogbaku dynasty was to attract more developments from government.
However, the leaders of Ezumezu Ogbaku,an umbrella body that administer common services of the 4 communities have united forces for peace and urged Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State to call Eze Onyeanwu to order before he injects crisis into their peaceful communities.
Speaking to newsmen,the Chairman of Ezumezu Ogbaku, Hon.Emmanuel Nwokoro attributed the backwardness and slow pace of the rehabilitation of Orie Ogbaku by the Developer, Cocars Limited since several months ago to the misunderstanding from one out of the four traditional rulers of the old Ogbaku, ancient kingdom,Eze Benedict Agu Onyeanwu who is claiming sole ownership of Orie Ogbaku.
He pointed out that Nsokpo-Ogbaku where Eze Benedict Agu Onyeanwu hails from was the least village to arrive Ogbaku during migration days and wonder how and why the market solely belongs to him?.
Also speaking,the former President-General Ogbaku Autonomous Community and, Ezumezu Ogbaku Deputy Chairman, Engr. Chief Iyke Nnadi, narrated how Ezumezu Ogbaku was legitimized through “Ogbaku Common Service Committee” to be incorporated at the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja FCT, in line with the directives to form an umbrella management body to superintend and Manage all the Jointly owned Immoveable Community based Accessibility such as Orie Ogbaku Market, Timber Market, Presentation Secondary School, Divisional Police Headquarters, Post office, Central School, Civic Center, St Calvin Catholic Church and many others.
According to Engr. Nnadi, who is also from the same Community with Eze Benedict Agu Onyeanwu,”the Monarch’s overbearing behavior, high-handedness has cost his people a lot of set backs.
His selfishness and ignorance made our people to loose the proposed relocation of Imo State University Second Campus to Ogbaku by former Governor Ikedi Ohakim even as he claims to be an Educationist and retired Secondary School Principal.
The crisis in Orie Ogbaku is coming from the traditional ruler of Nsokpo or Obi Ogbaku who refused vehemently to prefix or suffix to the Ogbaku like other three Autonomous Communities for the independence of the Old Ogbaku Ancient Kingdom”.
“We have Ezi Ogbaku Autonomous Community, Ogbujioma Ogbaku Autonomous Community, Okwu Ogbaku Autonomous Community and Nsokpo Ogbaku Autonomous Community respectively where Eze Benedict Agu Onyeanwu hails from and the least in the Old Ogbaku Ancient Kingdom and can’t lay claims over the Ancient Market”
“We have unanimously accepted and agreed to allow the Developer back to site to ensure that the Market is modernized inline with the Market open shades plan, drainage system, landscaping and Street solar lights facilities as we have equally created a temporary space for relocations of the petty traders and assured them that the Developer will deliver on time based on the agreement on 45 percentage returns to the Community” Engr. Nnadi.
Contributing, President General of Ogbaku Autonomous Community, Hon. Obizuo Ibeawuchi stated that he was the one that signed for the Ogbaku Autonomous Community column at the time of the written of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Developer at Mbaitoli Local Government Area Headquarters,Nwaorieubi and will not lie against his conscience, even when his traditional ruler, Eze Onyeanwu is currently claiming to have removed him from the office as the PG, whereas he was appointed by the Government through which Eze Onyeanwu also received his Staff of Office and Certificate to work as a traditional ruler.
Reacting, Eze Benedict Agu Onyeanwu
Said that the issue of Orie Ogbaku Market Ownership has been successfully settled by the State Government through the Office of Bureau for Peace and Conflict Resolutions and failures of his kin brothers Autonomous Communities to accept the verdict has prompted his decision to take the matter to the Court of Competent jurisdiction to finally settle the matter for future engagements.
Eze Onyeanwu point out that those claiming ownership of the market are simply ignorants of the truth and the issue of Autonomous Community status.
The Retired School Principal said that he was not contesting against the development of the market,but simply asking those who are no longer involved in the market to remove their hands as they are now different communities.
“You see, some people don’t know what they want, before you went for Autonomous Community status there are requirements for which having markets, schools, Healthcare centres among others.
Orie Ogbaku Market belongs to the people of Ogbaku of which I am their traditional ruler. We want development of the market not as a joint venture but for the community alone and we are yet to discuss with the Developer until that’s done. Currently,we are in the Court but I also oblige with the traders because of the prevalent insecurity and economic hardships, the Developer should wait a bit’. Eze Onyeanwu.
Narrating his ordeal, Orie Ogbaku Market Developer, Cocars Limited Representative, said that the delay in the execution of the market project has trapped his time and resources as he has already procured all the necessary building materials to do the work.
According to him, “I didn’t jumped into the Market as a Developer, but was officially offered the job by the Management of Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
After series of meetings with both of the four Autonomous Communities’ traditional rulers and their President-Generals and the Leadership of Mbaitoli Local Government Area wherein the MOU was signed and the people of Ogbaku Clan accepted that I should come and start work.
This singular action is causing confusion”.
