Nigerians woke up in the morning of Friday, January 19, to a trending video by a skit-maker, Chibuike Ugwu, popularly known as Untouchable Comedy, alleging indiscriminate destruction of properties by the Enugu State Government at the Lifestyle and Golf City, better known as Enugu Centenary City. He claimed that government was about to bring down his property even when he acquired it lawfully.
In an apparent attempt at blackmail, he solicited Nigerians to ask Governor Peter Mbah if that was his concept of Aku Ruo Uno/Ulo; if that was how he wanted Ndigbo and Ndi Enugu to come home and invest. Expectedly, the governor and his government were dragged by a misguided mob.
But by Sunday, a sober Untouchable Comedy released another video where he profusely apologised to the governor. His words: “Information reaching me this morning was like I was even the one who did not understand what was going on at the Enugu Centenary City. It is a very long matter. I now know better. I wrongly accused the governor and I just want to beg him not to be angry. I was misinformed and I was also overwhelmed by fear and emotion. So, my people, this is a quick disclaimer to my earlier video. My governor, I beg you.”
Trust Nigerians, appeal for clemency was the prevailing sentiment after the apology. However, beyond forgiveness, now that nerves have calmed, it is about time we revisited salient issues thrown up by the episode.
One, do people really consider the consequences of their utterances and actions on their fellow humans, institutions of government and even the entire society? The young man took to the social media without due diligence, forgetting that his indiscretion could hurt the investment drive of the state government and, by extension, the state’s economy and people.
Two, do some of us really understand the concept of Aku Ruo Ulo, which simply underscores the need for Ndigbo to think home and invest home? This crusade can be traced to the Igbo civil war experience in which many who fled home had no place of their own and had to put up with their relatives; the ‘abandoned property’ policy in some parts of the country, notably Rivers State, courtesy of the Abandoned Property Edict; losses of Igbo lives, property and businesses to ethno-religious riots; perceived Igbo-targeted policies/actions, etc.
So, Aku Ruo Ulo should never be mistaken for lawlessness. For instance, in the natural Igbo setting, you cannot just jump on a communal land and start building on it. You must present drinks to the community or elders, who will in turn show you a portion to build on.
As a society guided by laws, Section 13 (1) of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) Law, 2009, provides: “Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, as from the commencement of this Law, no person or body shall carry out any development or municipal service within the Capital Territory, unless such development or municipal service has been approved in writing by the Authority.”
This provision protects owners of landed investments from land grabbers because you must submit your land title for verification before ECTDA grants you the approval. It ensures adherence to town plans. There are areas designated as industrial areas, residential, commercial, and even reserves, among others. There are equally areas designated as low or high density. So, even with your certificate of occupancy (C-of-O), you must adhere to the structure, purpose, safety, etc., approved for your area.
So, one would wonder how it was more convenient for someone to make a video, raising false alarm, flaunting a deed (land agreements with whomever), not even C-of-O or building approval, than presenting those documents for verification/regularisation by the authorities/property owners in notice served him since October.
Again, who among us would be happy to return from Lagos, Kano or overseas only to discover that properties he/she toiled to acquire had been sold or ‘acquired’ by some land grabbers? Is that what Aku Ruo Ulo stands for? Aku Ruo Ulo defers to the rule of law. And it is such assurances that will drive local and foreign investment.
Furthermore, the onus is on property buyers or developers to do their due diligence and follow the due process before buying any land or erecting structures.
Lastly, do I envy Mbah? No. Impunity has gone on for long. Even lands designated for public structures were wilfully encroached on by land grabbers or carved out and sold/shared to individuals. But he must understand that development, reforms and undoing entrenched impunity do not come easy. From Singapore to South Korea, Hong Kong and anywhere else, true development and economic prosperity require willpower and sacrifice.
A leader, according to Rosalynn Carter, the late American First Lady, activist and humanitarian, takes people where they want to go; a great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go but ought to be. That was how Lee Kuan Yew’s tenacity, irrespective of whose ox was gored, took Singapore from third world to first world nation in a generation.
So, to grow Enugu State’s economy exponentially from $4.4 billion to $30 billion and make Enugu the premier destination for investment, business, tourism and living as envisioned in his manifesto, he must stand his ground.
•Dr. Okolie is a senior lecturer, senior research fellow, and former state director, National Orientation Agency