Emma Elekwa
Occupants of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) party house situated along Niger Street, Fegge Onitsha, Anambra State have protested alleged ejection by the Federal Government, through Golden Crown Consult Nigeria limited, based in Asaba, Delta State.
The property was said to have been leased out to a businessman by the federal government through the company at the cost of #37,612,978.00 and quit notice served on the occupants.
The occupants who are mostly police personnel and few civilians who confirmed the ejection notice lamented the short time-frame of two weeks and pleaded that they should be given up to three months or end of this year.
The aggrieved protesters, some of who carried leaves, explained that they live with their families and as bread winners should be given enough time to vacate.
They admitted receiving #300,000 per occupant as compensation to enable them look for alternative place of abode and finance such apartments they may have found.
Content of lease offer
The lease offer by the FG to Golden Crown Consult Nigeria Ltd read in part thus: “The Presidency. Implementation committee of the white paper on the commission of inquiry into the alienation of Federal Government landed property”.
“Re: Offer of a leasehold interest in Federal Government landed property in the states. Defunct political office building at Niger street, Fegge, Onitsha South LGA, Anambra state. Dilapidated and abandoned political office building. #37,612,978.00.
“Further to your expression of interest to take up a leasehold interest in the above-mentioned property (hereinafter referred to as the FGN), together with all appurtenances, rights of way, easements and privileges related thereto.
“We are pleased to inform you that Mr President has graciously approved that you should be offered a lease of the property on as is basis at the stipulated price(hereinafter refered to as the consideration)”.
Pleading for more time to enable them park out, one of the occupants, Delight Okwuegbulem, said, “We are not saying we will not park out, what we are saying is that they should give us more time. Initially they told us three months and later said two weeks.
“We can not find alternative place in two weeks, at least three months to end of this year. I have stayed here for three years. The time frame they gave us is too short,” he pleaded
Also a female resident, Mrs Anthonia Onyebuchi said, “We have not seen houses to park in, since the time they serve us the quit notice till now we have not rested as we continue to look for alternative place. They should help us by giving us six months or more.”
Onitsha South LG’s position
Contacted, scribe of Onitsha South council area, Paul Onuachala, insisted that the party house in question belongs to Onitsha South local Government area and warned that nobody or group should lay claim to it
His words, “The property belongs to Onitsha South Local Government area, so they have no right to sell or lease it.
“The person selling it or leasing it has no genuine title, so how can he sell.
“The property in question is a right issue that belongs to Onitsha South local Government area that inherited it from old Onitsha Urban council, down to Onitsha Local Government and now to Onitsha South Local Government area.
“If Fegge local Government is created the property will belong to Fegge Local Government area”
On the issue of Ogbo family of Umuasele village Onitsha (claiming ownership) vs National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA having a pending case in court over ownership of the property, the council secretary reiterated that NIWA does not navigate in the party house but in the river and as such has no business in the party house.
State Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga (SP) was yet to respond to test messages sent to him for confirmation as at press time.
