On behalf of the Governor of Imo State, the Chief of Staff, Imo State Government House, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu today
received in audience the representatives of Accredited Landlords of Imo Palm Plantation from Ohaji /Egbema / Agwa .
Speaking during the Courtesy call, the spokesman of the Team,
Chief Kyrian Ojiaku had the Communique endorsed by the relevant signatures and presented to the Government through the Chief of Staff.
In the Communique, the accredited Landlord appealed to the Governor passionately to come to their aid by re-opening of the Imo Palm Plantation which has been closed down due to series of issues mostly bordering on Youth restiveness and Community disputes, a situation that created strong presence of insecurity for the smooth operations of the industry.
Only security men comprising of the Army, Niger Delta Security network set up by Governor Rochas Okorocha and men of the Nigeria Police were sighted guarding the company.
The nine mile square, 4319 hectares of plantation was established in 1962 as Ohaji Farm settlement by the then
Premier of Eastern Region Michael I. Okpara, with the planting of the palms trees done by Ukpabi Asika in 1976
while the first civilian governor of Imo State, the late Chief Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe built the mill in 1983.
The plantation was in 2011 leased out to Roche Group and from that time till when it was grounded, production and the entire operation of the company had
been going on amidst crises among the staff, youth as well as the Landlords Association.
Lamenting, the group appealed to the Governor to consider re-opening of the Industry noting that the survival and welfare of the generality of the people is in jeopardy as 80% of the workforce are from the host Communities.
The Communique read in part " That we call on his excellency and plead with him to consider the deplorable condition and plight of our people and allow the re-opening of Imo palm Plantation so that we can have some respite and allow economic activities to resume".
Responding, the Chief of Staff, Imo State Government House, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu accompanied by the Deputy Chief of Staff ( Operations ) Engr Kingsley Uju assured them that the Government will be willing to re-open the Industry for operation after they must have found a lasting solution to the issues that brought about shutting down of the Industry.
Speaking further, Chief Nwosu informed them that no responsible Government will sit and watch the citizens wallow in hardship without doing anything. He advised them that they stand to gain more including having extended attention to other areas of development for the Communities. This is a legacy that has been there since the days of Dr Micheal Okpara and it will be unfortunate to loose it in our time, he added.
The awards winning Chief of Staff urged the Youths to always be agents of positive change and not instruments of destruction by politicians because of their selfish interest.
Finally, the Chief of Staff tasked the Traditional Rulers
The Deputy Chief of Staff, Engr Kingsley Uju who is also one of the Landlords collaborated the submissions of Chief of Staff that the Government of Imo State is willing to re-open the Industry but called for understanding and peace from all the Communities.
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