₦airaland Forum

For too long, our community, Nkomoro Onuogba Nike, Enugu East LGA, Enugu, has endured in silence as our rights, lands, and dignity have been trampled upon by Professor Bartholomew Nnaji, the former Minister of Power – a man who presents himself as a national figure but behaves like a local land baron. It is time to break that silence.

In 2014, without provocation, Professor Nnaji demolished properties belonging to members of our community. Despite the pain, we chose peace. Again in 2024, he returned with even more aggression, repeating his unlawful actions. Once more, we refrained from taking the law into our hands, believing the courts would deliver justice.

The land in question is under active legal dispute, one that has been ongoing 90's, when our community was dragged into a case by one Alinta, a former NNPC surveyor. Professor Nnaji, fully aware of this dispute, reportedly bought the land in 2005. He is not even a party to the original suit. Yet, he has taken it upon himself to destroy properties on a land tied up in a legal matter currently before the Appeal Court in Enugu State.

Professor Nnaji claims he wants to use the land for a power project. But the truth is clear: there is no shortage of land in Enugu State for such a project. Why then did he choose only this parcel of land, one that has been in dispute for decades? The answer is obvious – this land is located in a fast-developing area, and his interest is driven not by the power project he brandishes as a cover, but by the lure of prime real estate and personal gain.

Worse still, Professor Nnaji never acts alone. Each time he commits these unlawful demolitions, arriving with personnel drawn from almost all divisions in Enugu State. This blatant misuse of state security forces to intimidate and oppress a peaceful community is a dangerous abuse of power.

This disregard for the rule of law is unacceptable. When people begin to feel that the courts cannot protect them, that power and money override justice, unrest becomes inevitable. We are warning now – Professor Bartholomew Nnaji’s continued encroachment, aided by the police, risks igniting communal conflict. We do not want that. We want peace. But peace cannot thrive where there is lawlessness.

We therefore call on all stakeholders – the Enugu State Government, traditional rulers, civil society organizations, the media, and above all the judiciary – to intervene and call Professor Bartholomew Nnaji to order. No one is above the law, no matter how powerful they may appear.

Enough is enough.

What is it that this man has with land disputes? Probably, he never owned a piece of land in his first life. And come to think of how most professors from Enugu and Anambra are getting involved in petty prejudice, especially the one they call Governor in Anambra state.

We have heard from one party. Let's hear the professor's side of the story. That's how a sane mind makes an informed judgment.

atiku4President:
What is it that this man has with land disputes? Probably, he never owned a piece of land in his first life. And come to think of how most professors from Enugu and Anambra are getting involved in petty prejudice, especially the one they call Governor in Anambra state.

This man is evil. This is the same thing he did in Umuode and oruku in Enugu East, Enugu. He's the cause of the communal conflict that's in this place for long.

SmartPolician:
We have heard from one party. Let's hear the professor's side of the story. That's how a sane mind makes an informed judgment.

You are absolutely right – fairness requires hearing all sides. But here are the facts:

1. The land is still in active court dispute.
2. Prof. Nnaji is not a party to that original case.
3. Despite this, he has demolished properties twice (2014 & 2024).
4. He carries out these actions with heavy police presence, which no private citizen should command against a community.
5. And his antecedents speak volumes: many in Enugu recall the Umuode/Oruku communal conflict, where Nnaji allegedly was widely identified as an instigator.

So we ask: Why is he doing this? He allegedly grabbed land in Akpugo and Ekpofu and the people resisted him. Now it is in Nike. Why not channel his resources into developing Nkanu and Enugu so citizens can benefit, instead of going round grabbing lands and causing conflicts?

So while he is free to state his side, his actions speak louder than words – repeatedly violating the law and people’s rights while a case is in court.

We welcome his explanation, but in the meantime, we demand the rule of law, not the rule of power and bulldozers.

Internal matter for Igbo people none of my business.