The Umuosodi-Umudei Community of Onitsha in Anambra has protested the construction of a motor park on its land at Okpoko, donated to Federal Government for an aerodrome.

The protesters aged between 60 years and 80 years, on Thursday carried placards with inscriptions: “Anambra Government cannot acquire our land without due process.”

Others read “Okpoko land is the bonafide property of Umuosodi family of Umudei Village, Onitsha”, and “We deserve compensation for acquiring our land for another project that it was not originally meant for.”

The Chairman of Okpoko Land Committee, Mr Jonny Nwanolue, called for dialogue with the state government to ensure compensation to the land owners.

“We gave the land to the then Eastern Nigerian Government in the 1960s for an aerodrome project, but part of the land was converted for the building of Onitsha-Enugu expressway.

“A portion was also given to the state government for the provision of a Fire Service Station in Okpoko.

“The state government, however, relocated the Fire Service station to Awka and is building a new project without our consent or compensation for the acquired property.”

Nwanolue said the protest was also to express their displeasure over the government’s failure to obey a court injunction restraining further construction on the property, pending the determination of a suit.

“It is regrettable that instead of obeying the court order, the state government neglected the court injunction and our plea for dialogue and due process.

“That is why we staged the protest. We gave the land to the Federal Government for overriding public interest projects, not to the state government,” he said.

Responding, the Park Manager supervising the project site, Mr Michael Ezeani, while addressing the protesters, commended their peaceful conduct and promised to deliver their grievances to the state governor. (NAN)