Izu Family head debunks letter claiming threat to life, forced endorsement

By Uzo Ugwunze

The Head of Izu family in Umuorabem Umumpama Aboji village Oba, Ogbuefi Godson Obi has refuted a notification letter purported to originate from Izu family and claiming to force certain family members to endorse a particular document.

The notification letter dated the 18th day of December, 2021 and addressed to the Chairman Umuorabem kindred, Umumpama, Aboji village, Oba also alleged that the lives of some members of Izu family were threatened.

The letter claimed that the Chairman of Umuorabem kindred, Mr Chibuzo Onyebuchi with six other persons were forcing some members of Izu family to sign a document that they did not know its contents.

Contents of the notification letter also include that the members of Izu family were ready to take legal actions should the alleged threat to life or forced endorsement continue saying that crime and security agencies have been notified.

Speaking during an Emergency meeting of all executive members and Heads of families in Umuorabem kindred which held at their village Hall, Ogbuefi Godson Obi stated that no such thing as relating to the letter ever took place.

“I am the principal custodian of the Izu family as the eldest. Izu family did not write that ‘Notification letter’.The said letter could be the handiwork of Enoch Obi’s immediate family.

“I am not aware of the selfish activities and actions of Enoch Obi’s immediate family because they have no regard for me or Umuorabem kindred Umumpama,Aboji constituted authorities.

“I am a retired soldier, a man of my word, I stand for Justice and I stand with my kindred Umuorabem. I cannot be part of memorandum of understanding reached by the kindred and go back inside to say otherwise,”said Godson Obi.

Earlier in his speech, the Chairman Umuorabem kindred, Mr Chibuzo Onyebuchi recalled that Mr. Odinaka Anigbogu a member of Izu family reported that some family members embarked on indiscriminate selling of their lands leaving him without any.

“When we discovered that Odinaka Anigbogu was being cheated out of their family lands, the Umuorabem kindred decided to come to his rescue ensuring that Justice prevails.

“Their family land was remaining Five and a half plot( 5&1/2 ) and we could have allocated the entire land to Anigbogu because they never gave him a dime from the many plots of land sold earlier.

“After much deliberations, the Enoch Obi’s immediate family via Izu family pleaded to be allotted two plots which was obliged in the interest of peace.

The Umuorabem kindred now decided that all parties involved will endorse an agreement cum resolution that there should be no further encroachment to the Three and a half (3 &1/2) plots of land allotted to Odinaka Anigbogu,” said Onyebuchi.

Also, the Chairman of Umuorabem Elders, Ogbuefi Christopher Onuegbu expressed his disappointment on the selfishness and unreasonableness exhibited by some members of Enoch Obi’s immediate family.

Efforts made to reach members of the Enoch Obi’s immediate family, an integral part of Izu family proved abortive at the time of filing the report.