By Austin Ogwuda
…plan to stage peaceful protest at Government House Asaba, House of Assembly, Aniocha South LG Council secretariat
…Quarters/Villages might declare themselves autonomous communities if…
A massive showdown is looming at Ogwashi-Uku between the indigenes and the Palace over contending issues of land ownership, which has come to a boiling point with latest directive mandating them to obtain permission from the Palace before they can farm.
Arising from a Townhall meeting of the Ogwashi-Uku Development Association (ODA) on Saturday at Ogwashi-Uku Civic Centre, Delta State, Nigeria, the aggrieved subjects registered their utter disappointment over the lingering land issues, accusing the their traditional ruler of alleged high-handedness as an “Emperor”.
*The Ogwashi-Uku monarch, HRM Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo
They condemned the Palace for what they described as alleged intimidation and enslavement, using judicial and security privilege.
They, therefore, declared that “Twenty-one days after the planned protest if no positive response is obtained, the Quarters/Villages should be granted leave to declare themselves autonomous communities”.
The Communique which was signed by Osamor Patrick Izu, President General; Adigwe Eluemuno Sunday, Secretary General and Nkenchor Timothy, Communique Drafting Chairman reads:
COMMUNIQUE ON THE TOWN HALL MEETING OF THE OGWASHI-UKU DEVELOPMENT GASSOCIATION (ODA) HELD ON 4TH OCTOBER 2025 IN THE MAIN HALL OF THE OGWASHI-UKU CIVIC CENTRE OGWASHI-UKU
INTRODUCTION
The meeting was well attended by responsible men, women and youths from virtually all the Quarters/Villages of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, affiliate clubs and associations and some branches of the ODA.
In a welcome address the ODA President General Mr. Patrick Izu Osamor informed that the Town Hall Meeting was summoned as an emergency to address overwhelming existential challenges to the kingdom which need urgent attention. He emphasized the disturbing actions of HRM Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo and his assistants to take ownership of Ogwashi-Uku lands.
After robust deliberations on the issues raised the following resolutions were taken:
1. Ogwashi-Uku lands are not owned by any person or persons and so no one can claim ownership of all lands of Ogwashi-Uku in whole. Lands are owned by the constituting Quarters/villages and all the Quarters/Villages have their established boundaries known over centuries. Disputes are resolved by the Idime in charge of the Okwa (Traditional Division) before the interference of the Obi/Obi in Council.
2. The Obi does not own Quarter lands except ones legally obtained by inheritance or by purchase/donation. The Ani of Ogwashi-Uku (Shrine of Origin) remains the exclusive traditional right of the Obi for worship hence the saying Eze nwe Ani. The other form the saying “Eze nwe ani” is used is to describe the Obi as the overlord of the kingdom but not as an Emperor whose subjects are a conquered people.and the entire land his. After all, history has it that certain settlers were in the land before the arrival of Prince Adaigbo from Nri and Adaigbo was not made leader because he conquered but because of his wisdom.
*Cross section of attendees at the Townhall meeting
3. Traditionally the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku represents the people of the kingdom especially in relationship with other communities and governments. When an institution is to be established in the kingdom the project promoters come through the Obi who consults with the Chief (the administrative head of the Quarter) who in turn reaches out to the Diokpa (the spiritual and natural head of the Quarter). The Diokpa then summons the elders to a meeting with the Chief where it is decided how and where to give through the Obi to the developers (government not commercial developers).
4. Over such communally owned lands the Obi is a Custodian. He is a “Caretaker” and derives his powers from the people who are the “Landlords”. A Caretaker, call him Custodian or Trustee, cannot become owner of the property (land) and cannot exercise powers over and above the land owners .
5. The claimed Recovery exercise of Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo is only acceptable if the landowners (Quarter/Village) have asked him to intercede especially on illegal sale off or retention of their land.
The Obi then can sue on behalf of the people. Such recovered land reverts to the original owners. Any attempt to take possession or ownership amounts to conversion and shall be resisted by the people.
6. The Ogwashi-Uku Development Association (ODA) formerly Ogwashi-Uku Development Union (ODU) is the recognized community development union of Ogwashi-Uku since the 1930s and has provided leadership for development of the kingdom even when traditional leadership caused a vacuum to be. ODA leadership was therefore mandated there mandated to:
A) Engage a competent legal team to challenge and set aside the reported Owa Oyibo High Court judgement in a case of Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo and Ifeakanachukwu Emordi (in their personal capacities) against Persons Unknown – a judgement which the Petitioners are using to take possession of lands of Ogwashi-Uku and and sending families out of their ancestral farm lands.
B) Organize as a matter of urgency a Peaceful Protest* involving all Quarters/Villages of Ogwashi-Uku (men, women and youths) to the Government House, Delta State House of Assembly and the Aniocha South Local Government Council. All documents articulating the challenges the kingdom has with the traditional leadership of the kingdom should be presented at every point of call and the Press.
C) Twenty-One days after the protest if no positive response is obtained, the Quarters/Villages should be granted leave to declare themselves autonomous communities
D) Set up Projects Monitoring Committee and Multiple Taxes Control Committee to check poor execution of government projects and abusive imposition of taxes on the people by government agencies. No Contractor or Agent appointed by government should commence work in the kingdom without notifying the leadership of Ogwashi-Uku Development Association (ODA) and intimating the Monitoring Committee with the Bill of Quantity to ensure work is done to specification.
The people condemned in firm terms the unbecoming attitude of the Palace in intimidating, if not enslaving the people using Judicial and Security privileges.They wondered why a traditional leadership who claims being a Trustee of a people would turn round to chastise the people on their land. The “NOTICE AND WARNING” issued by the Palace under the Seal of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku demanding that people obtain permission from the Palace before they can farm on their ancestral farm land was condemned as it calls for resistance.
SIGNED:
Osamor Patrick Izu
President General
Adigwe Eluemuno Sunday
Secretary General
Nkenchor Timothy
Communique Chairman
