Owa-Oyibo community, a town in the Agbor area of Delta State, has accused its monarch, Obi of Owa Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Emmanuel Efeizomor II, and members of the royal household of land-grabbing.
They staged a protest against what they allege is the illegal sale of ancestral lands by their traditional ruler.
They equally accused the monarch’s sons, Prince Amos and Prince Bright Efeizomor, along with three close associates, Chief Amos Agbogwu, Barr Raymond Isitor, and Princess Helen Efeizomor, of facilitating land sales for personal enrichment.
The demonstrators, led by Hon. Nkeki Uzor Benson, a former councillor and current chairman of the Owa-Oyibo Development Initiative (ODI), maintained that the sale of communal and private lands was without the consent of local landowners.
While calling the move a betrayal of the people’s trust, Nkeki said the community had endured years of intimidation and silence, with many afraid to speak out against the influential royal family.
The protesters revealed they had submitted a formal petition to the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, and the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor.
“We can no longer keep quiet. Our ancestral lands, which have sustained generations, are being sold to wealthy investors while our people remain in poverty.
“This is not just about land. It is about justice and the future of our children. If this is happening under the current leadership, what will the next generation inherit?” Nkeki stated.
Nkeki alleged that farmland is being converted into luxury estates, with the original landowners seeing no benefits.
He said the speaker acknowledged receipt and promised to escalate the matter.
However, the group warned that if their concerns are not addressed, they may protest to the National Assembly in Abuja and even approach foreign embassies, including those of the US, UK, and France. A reliable source from the State House of Assembly confirmed that the lawmakers have appealed to the aggrieved protesters to let them handle the issue, and that the palace will soon come up with a statement.
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