Lagos: Meet with your Eze to verify land of interest for purchase through the Baale/Oba to avoid land ownership issues – HRH CC Nwokedi tells Igbos
….As Eze Chika Nwokedi attends the 5th New Yam Festival of Ezendigbo Oriade(Photos)
By Onome Naomi
HRH Chika Nwokedi express concerns over the land tussle between the Igbos who buys from yoruba ruling families in Lagos as it is fast becoming a constant issue.
He said if Igbos must buy land in Lagos, they need to contact their Ezes to avoid land grabbing issues, the Igbo rulers in your jurisdiction will inturn contact the oba or baale of that area authorized to sell available lands with the proper receipt signed by the ruler.
Eze Chika said over 30 cases of land buying from the wrong source by Igbos in Ijegun Ijeododo area of Lagos has been a call for concern. When verification takes place, it will be discovered that unauthorized family members or extended family members of the ruling family sells lands to igbos especially, knowing that the ability to verify if it is an authentic receipt or not is with limited information.
Igbos in Ijegun Ijeododo should verify the authenticity of sellers before buying land in Lagos, contact the Eze in that jurisdiction so as to avoid landgrabbing or land tussle.
The mandated public warning by Eze Chika Nwokedi was borne out of a recent issue with one Pastor Austin Solomon who bought a piece of land on the 8th of June 2018 in Ijeododo.With the help of his brother Ikenna, a woman called Mrs Oluwafemi Ajiboye sold him a piece of land but issued an unauthorized receipt as against receipt signed by the baale of Ijeododo.
When Pst Austin was ready to start developing land in 2023, he was met with obstacles by forces who works on the order of the baale. They told him the land had been sold to another and that he should stop any further building work on the said land. In replacement, he was given an unfavourable location as compensation for the originally bought and confiscated land. He contacted Eze Chika Nwokedi the Igbo leader of Ijegun Ijeododo to intercede because he had already put some structures on the land in dispute.
Upon further investigation by Eze Chika who visited the Baale of Ijegun Ijeododo to ascertain the issues as to why Pst. Austin can’t have his originally bought piece of land confirmed through the baale that all documented signed papers and receipts given to Pst. Austin is not from the baale’s palace. He didn’t authorize the sales of the said land and the signature on the land receipt isn’t his either.
The land issue had led to conflicting narrations that triggered the empathy and warning from HRH to say any land of interest the igbos must buy in Lagos should be “In the know” of Igbo rulers in that area so as to meet with the authourised sellers through the baale/oba.
Meanwhile, HRH Chika pleaded with the baale to consider the amount already spent on the land purchased but met with an unresolved response as both rulers are expected to meet on Monday, November 12th for conclusion on the said land in dispute.
Performing Royal Duties: HRH Chika Nwokedi Chairs The 5th year Iwaji/Iriji Festival of Eze Apollos Chukwukadibia Umenwekwe in Oriade
Eze Dr. CC Nwokedi the Ezendigbo of Ijegun Ijeododo, Chairman Eze council in Lagos, Former Chairman Ladipo and Founder Ndi Igbo Buruotu Association of Nigeria is a renown leader with astute qualities which cuts across different spheres with the capacity to govern, solve crisis and promote peace amongst tribes.
In this regard, other Igbo leaders in Lagos finds confidence in his approach especially during communal and inter-tribal crisis as seen in past antecedents.
In the new yam festival of Ezendigbo Oriade as a member of the Eze council, Eze Chika is inclined to perform his duties by registering attendance and chaperoning the event to see it to its success despite the many challenges met by a co-tussling Igbo leader who was bent on ruining the essence of the new yam festival for igbos in Oriade.
Oriade area of Lagos has power tussle Igbo leaders who gets at each other in fight for boundary possession and needed a quick intervention to cushion the effect of an already brewing crises between Eze Apollos Chukwukadibia Umenwekwe and Eze Emmanuel Chukwuakalikamadu which could have been bloody. Eze Chika who quickly stepped in to resolve amicably said it is in the interest of Igbos that peace reigns amongst its leadership and as such none should be the obstacle to another when dealing with rulership issues.
Despite the challenges faced on the 5th New Yam Festival of Eze Apollos, the event was celebrated with all rights and protocols observed to see it to a well celebrated conclusion with Ezes in Lagos in attendance and this also includes the presence of President of Ohaneze in Lagos, High Chief Sunday Ossai.
The event registered activities like the breaking of colanut, cultural music and displays, the cutting of the Yam seen as “Kings of all crops” as well as good turn out of attendees in Oriade.
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Eze Chika during a press interview said it is important according to culture for Ezes to celebrate the new yam festival as the old yam phases out of sight. Says the new yam festival ushers in its own blessings for the season.
