Obosi: A community under two ‘governors’

He says one man who parades himself as ‘governor’ and his men were going about beating people over land. According to him, the ‘governor’ with about 50 men, go about the town to club land owners for refusing to surrender their land, and in the process, collect their money. He declares, “the beating is getting […]

He says one man who parades himself as ‘governor’ and his men were going about beating people over land.

According to him, the ‘governor’ with about 50 men, go about the town to club land owners for refusing to surrender their land, and in the process, collect their money.

He declares, “the beating is getting worse and worse by the day” by ‘Governor’ whose initial job was to monitor the land from being taken over by any intruders from the surrounding villages. The spokesman says as for today, the ‘Governor’ turned around to dispossess people of their land, the land he was asked to guard and protect.

According to Eweka, “the ‘Governor’ and his gang, at times, enter into your land of about 10 plots, take away seven, then, leave three for you. If you dare disagree with them, you are finished, as about 50 men, two each standing by a motor bike, hands raised-up, trailing their unsuspecting victims placed to carry out their sardonic acts.

“The victims”, he goes on, are sometimes beaten to a pulp, unless by the whiskers, they escape through the back door, while others have lost their eyes or sustained severe injuries in the process of being beaten.

The spokesman revealed to Sunday Trust that one Collins Iwerabor lost his left eye after the beating of his life by, ‘the governor’ boys. It was discovered also that the women are not left out in the travails that befall their husbands. In other words, if their husbands escaped from the beating, their wives are in for it.

Hear him, “In Obosiland, the bad boys also beat women, especially those whose husbands have disappeared into thin air while being chased to surrender their land.

“Sometime last year, they beat one Mrs Ogochukwu Umuna,stripped her  naked and paraded her before about 200 people.”

He stated that the ‘governor’ engaged, as it were, the bad boys to deal mercilessly with the “recalcitrant” land owners to submit their lands.

But there is an exception to this beating and confiscation of the said land. Those who belong to the rich family and famous people are however, not touched no matter the size of their land. And their lives are not threatened either.

Historical Background

Obosi is made up of five villages-divided into two quarters. The quarters are Ime-Obosi and Isiowulu-Obosi.

Obosi town shares boundary with Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of the state.

The place has distinguished personalities like the former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the first Igbo Engineer, late Igwe Eweka, the first Igbo female pharmacist, Mrs Egu (nee Eweka), Dan Chuke, a former minister, Mike Ajaegbo, a famous politician and business man and the current Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) boss, Osita Chidoka.

Obosi town has existed peacefully for Centuries and has had about 17 kings. Engineer J. Nwakobi is the current king. The people are highly educated, and are mostly into civil service jobs. They are not businessmen like Onitsha people, their next door neighbours.

People Under Seige

But today, these are history as the cozy and peaceful town has since passed five years ago. To state the obvious, the place is volatile and gloomy. Anger is dotted on the faces of the unprotected poor citizens who are battered by ‘governor’ over land.

Sunday Trust was also informed that ‘Governor’ held people hostage for days and while in captivity, the victims are asked to submit all relevant documents of their land before they are let go.

Mr Emeka Ayakoro was one of such persons. He was held for five days, but later walked into freedom when, indeed, he became “friendly” with his captors. However, those who attempted to challenge them did so on their own risk.

Also, one Awoneko Suno who hails from Maku village was captured on 7th June, beaten to a coma because of his refusal to dance state of their tune.

However, the case was reported to the police.

Narrating his ordeal, Mr. Suno said: “I was sitting in front of my house, about to eat when Nwabueze Onyakonu, Chijoke and others came. They threw away my food and started beating me.

“After the beating, I reported to the police but regrettably, as I speak, no action has been taken by the police.”

Mr Emeka Ezuole, a treasurer in one of the villages, also had a similar experience. According to him, “On the 3rd of December last year, I was beaten, dragged along the street, and my N35,000 stolen for resisting ‘Governor’s order to part with my land.” The money belongs to the community, he added.

Crying for help from the authorities

Following the scenario painted so far, the livid people of Obosi, whose land have been collected and sold, petitioned the Anambra State police command and the former  Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr Ogbona Onovo, alerting them of their ordeals in the hands of  this ‘Governor’ . The petitioners copied the state Governor, Peter Obi, the SSS and other stake holders, yet nothing has changed.

Contacted on phone, the command Public Relations Officer (PRO) Asp Emeka Chukwuemeka confirmed the story, saying the crisis was under investigation at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

But as the bad boys continue to carry out their devilish acts unchallenged, the aggrieved Obosians, penultimate month, carried out a peaceful protest to Government House Awka. The protesting youths, accompanied by some elders, carried placards which read: “Governor Obi save us from Obosi APF”, our Governor is Peter Obi, not terrorist Omezie”, “Obosi is living in bondage, please help us”, “Obosi is on fire, Governor Obi please help”, were received by the Deputy Governor, Chief Emeka Sibeudu.

Sibeudu said government is already aware of the matter and is working round the clock to bring the ugly situation under control.

While commending them, he noted, “for the peaceful way you are going about it, I urge you to continue in that spirit to avoid taking laws into your hands.”

Engineer J. Nwakobi, the Igwe of Obosi town was not available for comments.

When our correspondent arrived at the Igwe’s palace, one of his aides who gave his name as Emeka, said the Igwe had travelled abroad for medical checkup.

For ‘Governor’ it is easier for the head of the camel to pass through the needle than anyone to get access to him in his well guarded abode.

His message through his aides indicated that he was not willing to receive any visitor. “Oga journalist, the ‘Governor’ is not willing to receive anybody,” one of the aides announced.

He even turned down all phone calls put across to him by this reporter for his comments.

Since the crisis began in Obosi town, most citizens are now sleeping with one eye open, apparently for fear of being hounded by the terrorists who patrol the town day and night to carry out their acts before the eye of the security operatives.