I Did Not Sell Any Land. The Immediate Past Chairman of Umuekpu Development Union (UDU) says.
–Umuekpu Lands Were Sold By Obibi-Ogbaku People
–Umuekpu petition is with the IG.
The Umuekpu community in Mbano Agwa Autonomous Community, Oguta Local Government Area, Imo State, has for about two years now engulfed itself in a community leadership crisis that is looking very consuming if not quenched. Our reporters gathered that this crisis is unconnected with the sale of community land belonging to the Umuekpu people by some wide goose chasers and, on the other hand, alleged that the immediate past Chairman of Umuekpu Development Union “UDU”, Pastor Davison Ekene Onyejiekwe, may have had a hand in the land racketeering.
After the maiden meeting of the ACU Mediation Committee held last weekend, Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the Anglican Church, Umuekpu, Inside Agwa News had a one-on-one discussion with the man in the heat of the flames to exclusively tell his story himself.
Excerpts:
Good afternoon, Pastor Ekene Davison.
It has been a hectic one all this while.
Ekene: Yes, it is. Nothing good comes easy, but I am happy God has been so kind and thorough to me.
Are you still the chairman of the Umuekpu Development Union or a past chairman?
Ekene: By the constitution of the Union, my tenure winds up last week, but I was allowed to work after my elections as the elected chairman of UDU.
So, what happened?
Ekene: Before I was appointed the caretaker chairman of UDU, I was doing well in my pastoral work and school. Everyone in this community knew the stuff I was made of. My school was running very well. But after some time, I got involved with some persons who nominated me to take the reins of leadership in Umuekpu. I struggled with the decision, but for the sake of some strong personalities in Umuekpu, who was on me to accept the offer, the last of such interactions happened in the house of our very distinguished Professor Amanze Unagha; at this point, I threw in the towel.
How can you describe your tenure in office?
Ekene: Well, no one knows it all. Not even half of perfection has been achieved by human beings. But that does not stall or clog the wheel of human advancement or development. This, I think, answered your question.
Sir, I would want you to be more explicit on this and share with us some of those things your administration achieved…
Ekene: Well, I do not think my reply to your question did meet up with the matrix. Under my watch, the people of Umuekpu strived for unity, and our economic life was appreciated because my executive made sure that our farmland and domestic animals were protected.
We did not divide the community. Peace and harmony reigned until recently…
What happened?
Ekene: The phrase I employed in my first response was intentional. “Nothing good comes easy.” You see when some people felt that my administration was getting it well and it was no longer business as usual, they began to push for a change of government through elections of the substantive executive. This sentiment dominated the social discourse in Umuekpu, and finally, an electoral committee was set up headed by… I bought the election form to contest the chairmanship position. There were about 16 people who bought forms for various positions. After all their plans to get me out of the way failed, I still emerged the winner and returned.
How did you manage the announcement of Hon. Moses Eze by the former Sole Administrator of Oguta LGA, Hon. Offili Ijeoma, as the caretaker chairman of UDU?
Ekene: (Laughed…) That moment defined the height of desperation by some persons who felt that only they could lead. Of course, I knew it was not going to fly, and it didn’t. The Umuekpu people were very resilient; they resisted that desperate move and killed it with a counter-announcement.
Let me tell you, you cannot build on anything. My years of serving this community are not in vain, and I thank God that the Umuekpu people know the truth that I protect their interests.
I also think it will serve the readers best to get this information. One of the reasons the Umuekpu people decided to dissolve my UDU-led interim administration was for duly elected officers to emerge. That arrangement was pretty good. There was an electoral committee headed by Barr. Leonard Akpaelu, Chairman, and Mr. Vitalis Osondu Ogaranya, secretary. interestedd persons bought forms, screened, and were deeply involved in the campaign.
Surprisingly, a few days into the elections, HRH Eze S. Onuegbu, Udo Mba I of Mbano Agwa Autonomous Community, summoned all the candidates and other stakeholders in his palace. The message was, “The scheduled elections are not going to be held.” His reason is best known to him as he quipped, “Umuekpu people, go and put your house in order.” We came back home and started engaging our people again with our manifesto, only to hear that hoax announcement over the radio.
A report by the joint boundary demarcation committee chaired by Barr. Ndubuisi Onyewuchi and High Man alleged that you sold Umuekpu land. Did you sell any land?
Ekene: I did not sell any land. That report is infantile, baseless, and the handiwork of disgruntled elements, men of the underworld who find it hard to accept reality when it dawns on them.
Let me tell you, the land is not like a confectionery where you can go and pick up items and go away without any legal written documents and signatories. In other words, spirits do not sell land, and land does not disappear. I challenge anyone to bring any documents that show that I sold Umuekpu land as alleged. As the saying goes, “He who alleges should be able to prove it.”
They have just been smart by half.
Are you saying that the particulars and names of those who sold Umuekpu lands are hidden? This is a book! According to the Secretary of the Fact-Finding Committee, Comr. Stanley Amaechi, in their investigation, discovered that the people who sold the land were not Umuekpu people but Obibi-Ogbaku elements. When we got this information, my committee quickly wrote a petition to that effect, and the petition is with the Inspector-General of the Nigerian Police.
I want to tell the Umuekpu people and the Agwa clan to disregard the outlandish allegations, for they are not true.
Were you consulted during the hearing of the committee?
Ekene: No, the committee did not interface with me. I was not consulted nor invited to any meeting with them. Their reason for doing so was also best known to them. My thinking of justice is giving equal opportunities for conflicting parties to share their experiences before concluding to give their report. In fairness to their spirits, I was not giving a fair hearing before passing a judgment that maligned and assassinated my character.
For instance, the said report was not signed by the secretary of the committee, Comr. Stanley Amaechi.
Information has it that Comr. Amaechi, having sensed the shenanigans orchestrated, resigned from the place.
Irrespective of your acclaimed effort in leading Umuekpu, you were arrested by the Nigerian Police. Please, could you tell us about this experience?
Ekene: Yes, that is the heart of human beings. But I was not arrested by the Umuekpu people; rather, it was my big brother, Hon. Moses Eze, popularly known as Pawawa, who arrested me. Pawawa and his league of conspirators arrested me and took me to the State Police Command at the Tiger Base department.
What was the reaction of Umuekpu stakeholders during your arrest?
Ekene: Initially, some persons felt that I was the most notorious thief that should be dealt with, but when the chips were down, they knew better who the black sheep was. I was charged to court with all manner of offenses that irritate me as a person. I, Pastor Davison Ekene Onyejiekwe, was charged with murdering His Royal Highness, Eze (Dr.) Ignatius Ononogbo Asor, the Udi I of Obudi Ancient Kingdom, and charged with arson – burning down the Agwa Police Division – and other people who were killed during this crisis in Agwa. To God be the glory, I was found not guilty at the State High Court, Owerri. I was subsequently released by the intervention of some Umuekpu people.
Do you have any memorable achievements that your administration achieved for the Umuekpu people?
Ekene: Leadership is a process. It is a static affair. When we came on board, I asked myself, what is it that I can remember as the caretaker chairman of UDU? I could get the answer ready, but when we started working, an opportunity presented itself. There is this land dispute between Umuekpu and Obibi-Ogbaku. The dispute created a lot of tension and bad blood between the two communities, and Obibi-Ogbaku took Umuekpu to court. That case, as was instituted in the 1970s, went up to the Supreme Court of Nigeria. So, when this boundary issue came up again since nobody had the document, it seemed all our acts were based on the realm of claims, which are true anyway, but you went to court, and the issue of claims became immaterial; hence, the court dealt with fact. Based on this, Umuekpu empowered my committee to go all out to get the original document of the case, including the court proceedings and judgment. We journeyed to the National Archive, Enugu State, with our application thrice in search of the document. And at the end of it all, we were referred to the Imo State Judiciary and made a breakthrough. Today, the people of Umuekpu cannot only claim ownership of the land but also have documentation of the process and judgment.
My team was able to organize Umuekpu very well, and we made an impact. How about the constitutional reviews? We did it. We also ensure good neighborhoods and friendship amongst our neighbors and others.
How did you feel narrating your ordeal with the ACU Peace Committee?
Ekene: I felt pleased. That meeting was a big relief to me and all that I passed through. I was accused of collecting about 11 million in bribes to sell Umuekpu land and 6 million naira from parcelators. All of these accusations are frivolous, cooked up, and sold to the public just to tarnish my image and character. But after the meeting and with the calibers of the people on that committee, I think the whole truth will be unraveled with time.
It is a good one interacting with you.
Tell us your parting words.
I want to thank the people of Umuekpu who stood for truth and supported the course of development in Umuekpu and Agwa. The ACU leadership is doing well in their efforts to organize Agwa, particularly the constitution of the Peace Committee. I believe if they uphold fairness and justice, the committee will become a brand and go places.
I and my committee did our best to move Umuekpu forward to the best of our ability. Importantly, Agwa people should stop vilifying those who worked for them with their hearts and celebrate the sharks amongst them.
