The traditional ruler of Oru Oboro Autonomous Community in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, H.R.M. Eze Sir, Ralph Ogbonna has denied selling the community land to Fulani herdsmen.
The royal father also says that he does harbour Fulani herdsmen contrary to insinuations.
Eze Ogbonna in a statement issued by Hon Ifeanyi Wisdom Ogbonna and Stephen Ikechukwu Ogbonna on Saturday made available to ABN TV, accused those he described as detractors and enemies of peace of being behind the allegation.
According to the traditional ruler, ever since he emerged the leader of the community and his subsequent appointment into the council of Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, the people he called disgruntled elements have been attacking him.
“My attention has been drawn by a series of phone calls from Nigeria and diaspora to issue of the sale of land to and harbouring of Fulani Herdsmen in my community Oru Oboro Autonomous Community in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State.
“I, want to vehemently refute and deny these allegations and insinuations as false and act by detractors and enemies of peace. For avoidance of doubt, I wish to state that since the decision of Oboro people to fill the vacant stool of Oboro Clan Head and subsequent appointment as member of Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, some disgruntled elements have been throwing stones of calumny and hate to discredit my person and defame/tarnish my character.
“It is on record that I have consistently stood against the sale of large expense of land without clearance from government and this can be attested to and confirmed from minutes of meetings of Ikwuano Traditional Rulers with Ikwuano Local Government and Abia State.
“It is also on record that I am a full-blooded Igbo Statesman grounded in the customs and traditions of the Igbo race, hence will never sell my origin. All and the general public are by the refutal implored to discountenance any allegation and/or insinuations linking me with these allegations of falsehood , please. I am 78 years old, a Traditional Ruler and a grandfather” he said.
