By Tony Icheku 


Village Heads and leaders of Umunna Nsulu and Umuezenta Village Council in Isiala-Ngwa North LGA of Abia State have respectively denied Chief Nnanna Nwoha who claims to be representing their interests and  Chief of Staff to  Governor Alex Otti,  Caleb Ajagba who claimed through a press statement that the Abia State Government have entered into dialogue with the landowners of  the new site for the proposed Abia Airport Project.


Speaking to dailyledger.com.ng, High Chief Chijioke Ozems said  Nanna Nwoha is not an interested party in the matter as he does not own a piece of land on the proposed site, neither does he have the mandate of the community to speak on their behalf.


Ozems was reacting to the recent visit of Nwoha to the Chief of Staff to  Gov Otti, Caleb Ajagba whom he assured that Umunna Nsulu are appreciative to Gov Otti for siting the proposed site on their land as it would attract more socio-economic projects.


"As far as the people of Umunna Nsulu are concerned, Nnanna Nwoha does not represent them in any capacity. His visit to Caleb Ajagba at Government House could at best be described as a personal and business visit to his business partner. Nnanna Nwoha is a huge joke, and he is certainly on a mission to lead the Abia State Government astray"


Dailyledger.ng.com reports that Nwoha  led a delegations from Umunna Nsulu on a solidarity visit Government House Umuahia, where he assured the Governor of their undivided support towards actualizing  the project. 


He reportedly commended Governor Alex Otti for his unequal magnanimity and decision to site the first Abia airport in Nsulu land


"In a similar vein, the people of Umunna Nsulu are not aware of any meeting between Abia Government officials and the community over the proposed site for the airport. His claims  that such meeting took place as he was reported to have said in a news report is a figment of his imagination", Ozems affirmed.


Ozems, the spokesman for Umunna Equity Group explained that his views are the  summary of the resolution of the group after their meeting on the airport project.


According to him bona fide sons and daughters of Umunna Nsulu at the meeting include:  Chief I C Nwankwere; Chief Chinedu Onwumere;  Super High Chief Barrah Vincent and Elder Vincent Olugele. 


Others include High chief Dennis Onwunyiriuwa; High Chief Simeon Obioha; Chief Emeka Emeh; Chief Charles Ogbonna;  Chief Okechuwu Ogbonna; Hon. Victor Onwere; Chief(Mrs) Josephine Anyanwu;  Hon. Okey Mbuko; Rtd Supol  Chidi Nwaru and Apostle Innocent Akomas


In a related development, the Village heads of Umuezenta Village Council have equally denied Ajagba's claims of  Abia Government officials meeting with the landowners of the proposed site.


"We own 90% of the land in question and the only encounter we had with Government was after the trees on our land was cut down and officials from the Ministry of Lands came on a mission to our community. No meeting of any sort had been held with any government officials", leaders of the Council stated in  a press statement.


Signatories to the statement include Echezolam Ukaumunna for Umuezenta; Chinazunwa Nwogu for Umuelenwa; Chinedu Okpaenyi for Okpuala; Onyemaechi Uwa for Umuokolo; Okwuchi Ekeleme for Owo Umuezenta; Uba Ikpo and Mrs Ngozi Nduaguibe, (chairlady) for Umuokpa Eluama Umuezenta and Darlington Anusie/Mrs Peace Abel for Amaogwe Umuezenta.


The statement averred they would take all measures to prevent Government from dispossessing them of their  ancestral and only farmlands.


"The present government appears to be acting with an agenda inimical to public interest. Why is the proposed airport being moved from the earlier site proposed for it? Is Government no  longer a continuum? We know that Abia Government has an original master plan that dates back to the days of late Dr Ogbonnaya Onu as governor and successive administration has not revoked that masterplan. What has changed under the Alex Otti administration? And where is the gazette which published this latest acquisition the community leaders queried in a statement which they said is the copy of a petition to the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the State.