The Amagu Progressive Forum (APF) has condemned “the mischief and persistent attempts of some disgruntled individuals to drag the name of Senator Anyim pius Anyim to disrepute in a communal matter that does not have any direct bearing to him”.
In a statement, the chairman of the forum, Hon. Febian Osi Uka, warned against the desperate schemes of desperate individuals “who are bent on fanning the ember of conflict in the community”.
The statement asked them “to desist forthwith and pursue the path of peace in a matter that the community resolved through its established cultural channels”.
He advised that intead of embarking “on endless wild goose chase, the aggrieved should wait for the outcome of the matter which is already before a competent court of jurisdiction rather than the endless unconscionable campaign to disparage a man who has done so much for the community”.
The Chairman stated that this latest sham “kidnap story” of one of their own described as “a notorious drug addict and an outlaw only exist in the infirm and hallucinated mind of a puppet fueled by a manipulator who want to use his pitiable state of mind to gain sympathy in a matter that lack any ounce of legitimacy.
“In addition, it is on record that no incident of such happened as the Divisional Police Officer in-charge of the community had confirmed that no report of such was filed in with the police”.
The forum noted that those who alleged that the kidnappers were known thugs, should go a step further to provide same information to security agencies, if their only intention in linking the names of the former Senate president is not to cast aspersions on his reputation and that of notable community leader, Pharm Chinedu Makwe.
Furthermore, it frowned at the attitude of a former Education Secretary of Ivo Local Government and one-time Caretaker Committee Chairman of old Ohaukwu Local Government Area, “for abusing the privilege given to him by Amagu community as one of their son by working against the effort to promote peace and progress in community by persistently engaging in frivolous campaigns of calumny against the notable leaders of the community”.
APF stated that it was erroneous for any indegene to equate long occupation alone to right of ownership of a communal land that have existed for the benefit of every member of the community.
The Forum commended the effort of the Land Committee headed by Pharm. Nicholas Makwe and his members, who had worked and is still working tirelessly at their personal discomforts to advance the cause of the project selflessly despite the criticism and abuse by few dissenting indigenes who placed their selfish interest above that of the community.
They commended the unity of purpose shown by the community despite the provocation and irritant behaviours by few members of the community who are bent on sabotaging the collective efforts of the community.
