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An uneasy calm pervades at the Inosi Onira Retreat, residence of the first president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, first Senate President and the Owelle of Onitsha, the Late Rt. Hon Dr. Nnamdi Azikikwe after the death of his eldest son, Chukwuma Azikiwe who succeeded him as the Owelle of Onitsha.
This situation follows reports of allegations bothering on the interest of the former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Peter Obi in a large parcel of land besides the Zik’s place alleged to have been acquired by the ex-governor without the blessing of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s family.
Though reports alleged that the ex-governor may have struck the deal with some of the Zik’s kinsmen in Ogbeabu village, Onitsha, it did not go down well with Zik’s children who are said to have made a counter claim.
Shortly after Zik’s first son Chukwuma died, the matter became public knowledge as some of Zik’s high profile children who were not domiciled in Onitsha got wind of the deal and reacted furiously.
Chukwudi Iwuchukwu's Blog got the first hint of the impending trouble from Dr. Azikiwe’s third son, Dr. Nwachukwu Abiodun Azikiwe, a Havard trained Physician and President, Flora Azikiwe Foundation, alleging that ex-governor Obi was disrespectful of the Zik family and that the late Owelle (Chukwuma) had stopped him (Obi) from accessing the land.
Dr. Nwachukwu expressed regret that immediately the news spread in town that Chukwuma has given up the ghost, Obi allegedly sent his workers to cordon off the property and begin construction work but were promptly stopped by the police.
Orient Daily Newspaper which blew open the story in its recent edition of Wednesday May 27, 2015, reports in part as follows, “It was also revealed that Chukwuma’s petition to security agencies indicted the former governor accusing him of attempting to take over the family land for the construction of a shopping mall with his business partners in South Africa.
He also accused Obi of causing disaffection among Azikiwe’s kinsmen thereby polarizing them into two groups, one supporting Obi and the other vehemently opposed to the sale of the land.
Azikiwe’s third son, Dr. Nwachukwu Abiodun Azikiwe, a physician, in an exclusive interview, told Orient Daily that the land was carved out for Azikiwe family members who wished to erect residential houses and was not meant for sale. He stated that the certificate of occupancy (C of O) legalizing the present “Inosi Onira” their father’s residence was approved for the late Zik, their father in 1979 during Jim Nwobodo’s tenure as governor of old Anambra State.
Dr. Abidun, who expressed sadness over the insistence of former Gov. Obi in acquiring the property through so many means, regretted that about a month ago, the former governor whom he said had a strained relationship with their brother, Chukwuma, visited their eldest brother before his demise at his “Inosi Onira” residence possibly to seek his support on the land issue.
According to Dr. Nwachukwu, “Chukwuma quietly asked him to leave his house” adding that he, “Mr. Obi had not shown sufficient interest in the affairs of the family only to come now to acquire the family’s property through the back door.” To this, according to him, Obi simply left the premises feeling humiliated and depressed.
Dr. Nwachukwu Azikiwe who is the president, Flora Azikiwe Foundation a body named after his late mother and Zik’s first wife, Lady Flora Azikiwe, observed that about six hours following the death of their eldest brother, Mr. Obi invaded the said land through his agents and started erecting structures on the land while a caterpillar was also sighted clearing the bush.
Still in agony over his brohter’s death at Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha, adjacent to Zik’s “Inosi Onira Retreat”, he immediately visited the Onitsha Police Area Command, Mr. Philip Ezekiel, who advised him to first of all go through the DPO of Inland Police Station, Mr. Cosmas Eze, under whose juridcition the incident took place.
On reaching the DPO at Inland Town Police Station, Dr. Azikiwe said he was not happy the manner the DPO was handling the case and accused him of compromise in the matter.
He subsequently went back to the Area Commander who now directed the stoppage of the work by Mr. Obi and his agents on the land in question just for the maintenance of peace until a final settlement was reached.
He, however, commended the area commander, Mr. Ezekiel, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, for his wealth of experience.
When contacted on phone, the DPO, Inland Town Police station, Mr. Cosmos Eze, declined to speak on the matter, stressing that the case was already in court.
However, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, the new president of Nigerian is said to be a personal friend to the late Chukwuma Azikiwe before his sudden death in Onitsha about two months ago.
All attempt to speak to Mr. Obi’s media assistance, Valentine Obienyem, proved abortive as he did not pick his calls,” – Orient Daily reports.
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