Abia government in Umuahia formalised the take-over of the Abia Rubber Estate by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the core investor, Imoniyame Holdings Ltd.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the state government had earlier in the year approved the take-over of the estate by the company.
The process of the take-over of the estate was, however, stalemated as the host communities faulted government’s process of appointing the investor.
A spokesman of Ndi Oji Abam community, Chief Kalu Nkochi, told NAN on Thursday that the community was not carried along at the drafting of the MoU and as a result the contents were not binding on the community.
``Even the letter inviting us for the hand-over ceremony came a day to the event and we were expected to be at the venue at 8 a.m. Our road to Umuahia is bad for one to keep the appointment you have to start the journey at about 5 a.m. which is not possible.
``We signed an MoU with Imoniyame Holdings Ltd, so we are surprised that the same company signed another MoU with the state government.
``We have scheduled a meeting for Saturday in the community to review the unfolding events. We want to know what is in the government MoU so as to be in a position to respond,'' Nkochi added.
``But, one thing we have made clear is that we must have our sons and daughters in the management and not merely as tappers. Those days are are gone and gone for ever.''
However, Prof.Mkpa Agu Mkpa, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) said that government was able to negotiate a peaceful resolution of the impasse between the host communities and the investor.
“It was indeed a long and tortuous journey to arrive at the event of today and we expect a lot from the investor,” he said.
Mkpa said that government thought it wise to hand over the investment to the company that had the intellectual drive to move the sector forward.
“We implore you to conjure all the skills and resources in your company in order to give us results immediately.
“We encourage you to be at peace with your host communities.
“They want to be recognised because they gave their land for the investment,” he said.
Mkpa said that fences were being mended, adding “we expect you to adopt the newest technology in order to facilitate easy exploitation of the rubber”.
Chief Ike Onyenweaku and Abia Commissioner for Agriculture said that the investor had entered into a peaceful agreement with the host communities.
He said that government had already recognised the host communities by appointing two of their sons as subsidiary investors in the estate.
NAN reports that the estates are located in Amaeke Abam and Ndi Oji Abam in Arochukwu Local Government Area of the state.
“Dannic Investment from Amaeke and Odumachara from Ndi Oji have been appointed subsidiary investors as a means of placating the host communities,” Onyenweaku said.
Responding, Mr Jenkins Giane, Chairman, Imoniyame Holdings, said that the company had fought so hard to take possession of the estate.
“We will not let you down but will take the estate to a level where every person will be pleased with it,” he said.
Giane said that the company would only come with six workers to handle their normal operations while the rest of the workers including tappers would be from the host communities.
(NAN)
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