.Says, “I am now part of you, register me in your Umunna Meeting”
The General Overseer of Zion Ministries Inc., Evangelist Ebuka Anozie Obi, has announced plans to immediately commence the construction of two new schools in communities hosting the ministry’s development in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State.
Evangelist Obi made the announcement during a consultative meeting with stakeholders from the Mbaishii communities, held as part of efforts to deepen understanding, promote peaceful coexistence and strengthen the relationship between Zion Ministries and its host communities.
According to a report by Ambrose Nwogwugwu, the meeting brought together a broad representation of the traditional, political and community leadership of the area. Those represented included all five traditional rulers, five Presidents-General, five women leaders, five youth leaders and two councillors.
Also present were the President, Deputy President and Secretary of the Mbaishii Zion Landlords Association, Hon. Chief Victor Nwosu, Chairman of the Mbaishii Council of Chiefs, Hon. Fidelis Amaechi, Diaspora Representative Stakeholders, and Hon. Kelechi Chinaka.
The Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Chief Enyinna Onuegbu, who incidentally is a native and traditional prime minister of the host community of Mbaishii also participated in the meeting.
How Zion Ministry Came To Ngor-Okpala
Speaking at the meeting, Evangelist Obi gave an account of how he came to acquire the land on which the Zion Ministries development is taking place.
He recalled that when he first came to Ngor-Okpala, it was through one Uche from Obike, where he began the process of acquiring land. He said he was subsequently informed that the land was not owned by Obike alone and that the other communities had lands in the area.
According to him, when he approached the other communities, including Eziama and Alatia, they explained that they could not sell the land individually because if they sell to him, he will encounter problems with the state government who have since acquired the land and advised him to approach the state government.
Evangelist Obi said that when he got to the government, he discovered that the land had already been covered by two separate Certificates of Occupancy and had subsequently been revoked.
He explained that one of the previous allocations was associated with China Quandon, whose beneficiaries had relocated to Ogun State, while another was associated with Chelsea.
According to him, the state government under the administration of former Governor Rochas Okorocha revoked the allocations after the beneficiaries failed to fulfil the developmental conditions attached to the land.
He said that under the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma, Zion Ministries was subsequently given the opportunity to develop the area, with specific conditions requiring substantial development within a stipulated period.
Evang.Ebuka Obi said the ministry had recorded significant development within less than two years.
He noted that the development had also affected the economic value of land in the area, saying plots that previously sold for between N100,000 and N200,000 were now selling for more than N15 million.
“I Am Now Part Of You”
Evangelist Obi expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Chief Enyinna Onuegbu, whom he credited with helping to ensure that he remained in Ngor-Okpala when he had considered taking the project elsewhere.
He disclosed that the traditional ruler of Osemetor in Oguta had offered him land free of charge and invited him to move the project to Oguta.
He said he declined the offer because he believed that his assignment was specifically meant to be fulfilled in Ngor-Okpala.
“I have always dreamed of addressing this community,” Evangelist Obi said.
“I am now part of you. Register me in your Umunna meeting.”
He also pointed to the wider economic activities that have followed the development, particularly the emergence of block-making businesses in several communities.
According to him, the demand for building materials generated by the development has extended from Ngor-Okpala towards Rivers State.
Enyinna Onuegbu: “Zion Ministry Has Come To Stay”
The Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Chief Enyinna Onuegbu, declared that Zion Ministries had come to stay in Ngor-Okpala.
“Zion has come to stay in Ngor-Okpala and no going back,” Onuegbu said.
The commissioner said the development witnessed in the area demonstrated that Zion Ministries was contributing to the physical and economic development of the community.
He said the ministry was known for its church activities, but that its presence in Ngor-Okpala had also brought infrastructural developments like hospitals, schools, factories and other economic activities.
“I have shown my people these and they were very happy,” he said.
Onuegbu further clarified the history of the land, explaining that the property was not newly acquired by Evangelist Ebuka Obi.
He said the land had originally been acquired by the state government in 2003 and that the previous beneficiaries had failed to fulfil the conditions of development attached to the allocation.
According to him, the government subsequently revoked the allocations and reallocated the land to Evangelist Ebuka Obi and Zion Ministries.
The commissioner said Zion Ministries had been able to fulfil the development conditions imposed by the government within a remarkably short period.
“From what we have seen in less than two years, we have not seen this level of development before,” he said.
Onuegbu assured the stakeholders that the government would continue to facilitate dialogue between Zion Ministries and the landlord association as part of efforts to achieve lasting peace.
“We are going to continue this kind of interactive sessions between Zion Ministry and the landlord association as a way of bringing lasting peace,” he said.
Community Leaders Seek MoU And Social Responsibility
During the meeting, representatives of the host communities appealed to Evangelist Ebuka Obi and Zion Ministries to continue engaging with them and take steps that would strengthen the relationship between the ministry and the communities.
The community leaders particularly requested a formal understanding between Zion Ministries and the host communities through a Memorandum of Understanding.
They also appealed to the ministry to undertake projects that would directly benefit the communities as part of its corporate social responsibility.
The stakeholders acknowledged the development taking place in the area, but stressed the importance of ensuring that the host communities also feel the direct impact of the investment through education, roads and other social infrastructure.
Responding to the request for an MoU, Evangelist Obi promised to work with the government to review the existing understanding and do what would be appropriate in the interest of peace and mutual understanding.
On corporate social responsibility, he announced that Zion Ministries would immediately commence the construction of two schools for the host communities.
He also promised to grade some of the roads that had become impassable and assured the communities that the ministry would do more in the future.
Eze Nwachukwu: Land Acquisition Was Settled Long Ago
Also speaking, HRM Eze Engr. Fred Nwachukwu, Chairman of the Owerri Zone Council of Traditional Rulers and former Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers of Ngor-Okpala LGA, said the history of the land acquisition was well known.
Eze Nwachukwu said he could personally confirm that the issue was not a new one, recalling his involvement in the original settlement process between the state government and the indigenous landowners.
He said he was the person who collected the proceeds of the settlements reached between the government and the native landowners when the land was initially acquired by the state government.
He therefore argued that anyone seeking a fresh settlement over the same acquisition would be acting without proper understanding of the history of the land.
He, however, appealed to Evangelist Obi and Zion Ministries to continue to embrace peace and work with the communities.
The consultative meeting ended with a renewed commitment by the government, Zion Ministries, traditional institutions and representatives of the host communities to sustain dialogue and pursue peaceful cooperation.
The planned construction of two schools, road grading and other promised interventions are expected to further strengthen the relationship between Zion Ministries and the Mbaishii host communities while adding to the growing infrastructure and economic activity around the area.
