The stakeholders and people of the Amegu community in the Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have officially declared a ban on the sale and purchase of land within their ancestral homes.
The community stakeholders said the decision became effective following the pronouncement of Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State over land security within Izhi Nnodo's ancestral home, Amegu.
They recalled that Governor Nwifuru, during the 2024 New Yam (Ojiji) grand finale of Izhi Nnodo people at Amegu, ordered a ban on the sale of land within Amegu and Ebia Unuphu, their ancestral homes in Abakaliki Local Government Area of the state.
Reading a communique raised and signed by the critical stakeholders of the Amegu community on Friday during their meeting at Abakaliki Development Centre, Nkwegu, Dr Vincent Nkwede said the people reviewed the pronouncement of Governor Nwifuru and commended him for publicly placing an outright ban on the sale and purchase of land within the area.
According to him, the stakeholders, after extensive deliberations, commended Governor Nwifuru for his physical presence at the occasion and for his support that made the event a resounding success this year.
"We appreciate the governor for publicly placing an outright ban on the sale and purchase of land within Amegu and Ebia Unuphu Izhi Nnodo ancestral homes, Abakaliki LGA of Ebonyi State, based on the agelong tradition of Izhi land and urged the general public to ensure that this ban is strictly adhered to given the socio-cultural relevance of Amegu and Ebia to the people of Izhi clan.
"We commend the governor for the dissolution of all the youth executives in Amegu community and further reiterate that the youth executives at all levels in Amegu community stand dissolved as pronounced by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt Hon Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and that such executives in various villages of Amegu community should hand over to their respective chairmen of Development Unions immediately."
Nkwede said the critical stakeholders and people of the Amegu community have, therefore, pledged unalloyed and continued support to Governor Nwifuru in considering his untiring efforts in bringing democratic dividends to the Ebonyi people.
Some of the critical stakeholders including the Coordinator of Abakaliki Development Centre, Chief John Ndubuisi Nwohoke, former lawmaker representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Senator Ngugi Ngele, the Amegu community traditional ruler - Eze Fidelis Nwonumara, President of Amegu Community Development Union - Mr Augustine Akpu, the immediate past President of the Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum - Comrade Ben Nwovu, Dr Phillip Echiegu, among others, commended Governor Nwifuru and affirmed that the ban on the sale of land within the area has strengthened their unity and brought a relief them as a people.