Traditional Ruler of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, HRM Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo 11, has expressed concern on the spate of illegal sale of land in Ogwashi-Uku community of Aniocha North local government area of Delta State.
Okonjo lauded Delta government for establishing a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to resolve long-standing boundary disputes between Ogwashi-Uku and its neighbouring communities.
The Obi, who spoke with journalists at his Palace in Ogwashi-Uku yesterday, said under the land tenure system, the Obi is the custodian of the land in Ogwashi-Uku.
He said the right to alienate land in the community remains the sole responsibility of the Obi.
He said that there was much pressure on the community land, particularly at the boundary areas necessitating some individuals to start selling the land illegally.
Okonjo said that the Obi in council had decided to pursue and recover its lands peacefully through a judicial process rather than resort to violence and security breach.
He said that some resident farmers in part of the kingdom had become rebellious and demanding to become an autonomous community.
Okonjo said that land grabbers had engaged in the business because lands have become valuable in the area.
According to him, the Ogwashi-Uku land area is mapped and gazetted with well delineated land marks by the Federal Government.
“So, we have all documents to pursue and recover all our lands that were illegally acquired.
“Otulu is a farming settlement in the kingdom and those who reside there are primarily tenant farmers and not Ogwashi-Uku indigenes.
“The rebellion we are having from Otulu is coming from the children of the farmers who were born there but not from there.
“Here in Ogwashi-Uku, we run a patrilineal system, that is, you come from where your father is from,”he said.
He described the panel of inquiry as a positive development, adding that its judgement could be trusted being an independent body and for the interest of all parties.
Okonjo said that as a community, they had pursued their course the proper way as civilised people, adding that their interest was to live in peace.
According to the royal father, the primary driver of the crisis in the community is the land.
“As a palace, we don’t have any problem with the State Commission of Inquiry and it is a welcome development.
“We believe that the overwhelmed documentary evidence is on our side,”said.
The palace said that before the panel of inquiry was set up, it has also taken legal actions against all the land grabbers to secure justice for the community.
He said that the Obi in council this year, provided four transformers, gave 16 Hillux Vehicles to security agencies, and engaged more than 50 vigilantes to ensure security in the area.
“We have just awarded N260 million contract to build Area Command in Ogwashi-Uku,” he said.
According to him, the Obi in Council is building a new palace with the state of the art facilities in Ogwashi-Uku.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta recently set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to look into all the infractions at the boundaries of Ogwashi-Uku Community
The 7 – man judicial panel headed by Hon. Justice E.N Emudainowho is to resolve all long standing land matters in Ogwashi-Uku
The affected areas include lbusa, Otulu, Ubulu-Okiti, Okpanam, Olodu, Ewulu, Azagba- Ogwashi, Aboh- Ogwashi, and Olloh- Ogwashi communities.(NAN)
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