By: Kelechi Uzomah, 08064075316
In the realm of public service, there exists a distinct difference between a leader who merely occupies an office and one who utilizes that office to effect transformative change. In Oru West Local Government Area, we are witnessing the latter in the person of Hon. Engr. Ikenna Adikibe, the Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Imo State Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON). However, recent murmurs from a section of traders have threatened to obscure a story of courage, legality, and profound compassion. It is time to set the records straight regarding the developments at the Eastern Nempi Primary School.
The controversy stems from the recovery of shops built on the land belonging to the Eastern Nempi Primary School. To understand the present, we must revisit the past. These structures were not sanctioned developments; they were illegal edifices erected on school land by the former Chairman of the Council, Hon. Willie Okoroigwe. For years, this illegal encroachment robbed the school of its space and compromised its environment.
When Hon. Adikibe assumed office, he was faced with a dilemma. The law is clear: the land belongs to the school, and the illegal structures must go. The standard bureaucratic approach would have been a ruthless eviction of the traders, leaving families without livelihoods and creating a wave of resentment. But Hon. Adikibe is not a standard leader; he is a compassionate one. He understands the pulse of his people.
Instead of wielding the big stick of eviction, the Chairman chose the path of empathy. He offered the traders occupying these illegal shops the “Right of First Refusal.” Rather than throwing them out, he gave them the opportunity to purchase, own, and register the shops legally as government-registered properties. This is a rare gesture in governance—a decision that prioritizes the welfare of the citizenry while upholding the law.
The rate was set at Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N600,000) per shop. It is pertinent to ask: is this an act of extortion, or a pragmatic token for legalization and infrastructure development? The Chairman was transparent about the purpose of these funds. He pledged that the proceeds would be channeled into the renovation of the dilapidated school buildings and the perimeter fence. While N600,000 may seem significant to an individual, it is a drop in the ocean when considering the cost of renovating entire school blocks.
The allegations of extortion currently being circulated by some disgruntled elements are not only false but mischievous. Extortion implies the forceful collection of money for personal gain. Here, the government is formalizing an illegal occupation and redirecting the funds back into the community’s future—the education of our children.
The veracity of the Chairman’s commitment was demonstrated just yesterday. Hon. Adikibe personally flagged off the renovation work at the school. He did not send a proxy; he stood at the site to physically inspect and notify the people of his administration’s dedication to restoring the dignity of the Eastern Nempi Primary School. This is a leader who matches his words with action.
One wonders why the people are spreading false rumors that the Chairman is extorting the traders. Is it a case of sheer misinformation, or is it a calculated attempt by political detractors to tarnish the image of a performing Chairman? It is ironic that those who encroached on public land are now painting themselves as victims, while the leader trying to provide them a legal lifeline and fix the school is being vilified.
Hon. Adikibe could have simply demolished the shops. He could have ignored the plight of the school. He did neither. He found a middle ground that serves both the traders and the school. The N600,000 is not a tax but a redemption fee for a permanent stake in the school’s commercial environment.
We must resist the urge to pull down our leaders with baseless rumors. The Oru West Chairman has shown that governance can be human-faced. He has shown that even in enforcing the law, there is room for grace. The renovation has begun. The schools will be fixed. The traders have a chance to own their shops legally.
This is the true position. Any narrative contrary to this is a disservice to the progress of Oru West. Hon. Engr. Ikenna Adikibe remains a beacon of hope, and his dedication to the plights of the school and the welfare of his people deserves our collective applause, not condemnation.
Kelechi Uzomah is a public affairs analyst and a Developmental Communication Strategist based in Owerri.
