Aggrieved Ogwashi-Uku Indigenes March Against Land Grabbing, Illegal Arrests by Obi Okonjo, Want Governor Oborevwori to Intervene
Hendrix Oliomogbe
Thousands of aggrieved indigenes of Ogwashi Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State Thursday took to the main streets of the state capital of Asaba to protest against the alleged grabbing of their ancestral lands by Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo and his agents.
In a petition submitted to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori by the President General of Ogwashi Uku Development Association (ODA), Sir Patrick Izua Osamor and the Secretary General, Mazi Adigwe Eluemunor after the peaceful protest, which terminated at Government House, Asaba, they deplored the action of the monarch, allegedly based on a secret court judgment at an Owa Oyibo, Ika South Local Government Area high court in a case between Obi Okonjo and Prince Ifeakanachukwu Emordi Vs Persons Unknown.
While insisting that the judgment, which reportedly granted the petitioners possession (ownership) of "all lands of Ogwashi-Uku", is against natural justice and not acceptable to the masses of Ogwashi-Uku who cannot be taken as unknown persons, the protesters who were armed with placards with different inscriptions and chanted solidarity songs, noted that the judgment has become disturbing since the traditional ruler or his agents have commenced taking possession of the lands, sending away the people from their ancestral farm lands and harassing others with petitions and consequent police arrests.
They accused Obi Okonjo of not being transparent as compensations, proceeds and donations due to Ogwashi-Uku are not paid into any community account, but managed privately without accounting to the people, adding that those who opposed "untraditional processes of installing chiefs (including the Obi himself who was installed in place of his elder brother, the rightful of the position by Ogwashi-Uku customs and traditions) were wrongly accused of criminal charges and made to go through security and judicial costs."
Against the backdrop of the overbearing attitude of Obi Okonjo, who they pointedly accused of treating the community as a personal property by terrorising them through arrests and court processes on phantom charges in a desperate attempt to shut everyone up like slaves in their father's land, Sir Osamor and Mazi Eluemuno pleaded with the governor to among others compel the traditional ruler to stop harassing and arresting the people with his contacts in the securities (police and the military) and apparatuses of government.
They noted that the incessant arrests for no just causes and taking victims to Abuja for police investigations is frustrating and so needed to be immediately stopped.
Besides, the petitioners want a halt to the spate of "land recoveries" by the palace unless any quarter/village formally complained to the monarch after which the quarter must be a party to the case as plaintiff.
They demanded an immediate stop to the 'NOTICE AND WARNING" issued by the palace to the indigenes which makes it mandatory that any person who wants land to farm on their ancestral farmlands must obtain permission from the palace
The duo further called on the governor to protect the customs and traditions of the kingdom especially in installation of chiefs and the royal father a breach of which has cost the people decades of disputes and underdevelopment.
According to Sir Osamor and Mazi Eluemuno, the community should be saved from perpetual embarrassment of having someone with a dark past as traditional ruler with a consequent inferiority complex in the comity of traditional leaders.
They petitioned: "Protect the common man of Ogwashi-Uku from palace armed men called "vigilantes" (Lion Squad) and imported mercenaries the Obi and his brother Onyema Okonjo are using to send our people out of their farmlands and attack perceived opposition.
"Grant that each village (ogbe) with allies takes their right of autonomy if Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo with these enslavement tendencies being continually imposed on Ogwashi-Uku."
They also want the governor to intervene in the deliberate attempts to forcefully remove Dr. Jude Okocha as the registrar of Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku even when all Investigative Panels have exonerated him of all accusations.
They continued: "The government should attend to our petitions and not only produce white papers but see to execution of the decisions necessary to bring peace and order in the kingdom. Ogwashi Uku people, are not a conquered people but are being pushed to the wall."
Addressing the protesters, Governor Oborevwori restated the government's resolve towards ensuring justice in the leadership and land related crisis bedeviling the kingdom over the years.
Represented by his Senior Political Adviser, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, the governor reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to the enthronement of peace, justice and unity among the people
He assured that the contentious issues would be addressed speedily to facilitate early return of peace, law and order in the community.
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