By Austin Ogwuda
Barely 24 hours after a group of protesters from Akwukwu-Igbo community in Oshimili North local government area of Delta State stormed Government House Asaba to complain about alleged land grabbing accusation against a prominent Ibusa native, Chief Fred Ajudua, another opposing group has staged a counter protest too.
This time, it was Oligbo family protesters led by Uyo Iyase Chief Paul Nwaebili, Uko Oligbo, Hyacinth Iwelu and Onwuenwuzor Anthony, who claimed they were protesting on the directives of Diokpa Iyase Emmanuel Sonwu.
They said they embarked on the peaceful counter protest to correct the erroneous impression created by the dissident members of the family.
While urging the state government to disregard the earlier protesters, they said Chief Fred Ajudua was called to weigh in on the situation adding that no power of attorney had been given to him.
They displayed various placards with inscriptions, ‘Fred Ajudua is a liberator of the voiceless, he came to liberate the poor and voiceless’ ; ‘Disregard the rantings and blackmail of the rebels, they are motivated by greed’; ‘Okotomi Farm settlement will forever remain a communal land, even the court has ruled on it’ ; ‘Oligbo Family has mandated Chief Fred Ajudua with a power of attorney to go into Okotomi’, among others.
The group urged the State Government to call the earlier protesters to order and join hands with them for the growth and development of the the community.
Receiving them, the State Director of Protocols, Chief Sunday Onoriode said
“let me appreciate you on behalf of our Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for the peaceful conduct you have displayed today.
“Yesterday we received a group from your community in this same place saying that some strangers are entering their land unlawfully.
“We pleaded with them just like we are pleading with you now that our Governor is a man of peace and he loves peace so much.
“He has asked me to tell you all to continue living peacefully and harmoniously without problems. After yesterday’s protest the issue was referred to the appropriate department that handles conflicts and now that you are here we now know the two groups involved in this matter.
“The committee will invite stakeholders from both groups when they want to address your matter but above all you must remain peaceful and law-abiding,” Onoriode added.
Recall that Mr. John Ofuasia had on Monday led a group of protesters to Government House Asaba, calling on the governor to intervene urgently by calling Chief Fred Ajudua to order to avoid bloodshed.
The protesters maintained that Ajudua’s alleged move to take over their farm lands was for selfish purposes.
They alleged that some persons in the community were conniving to grant Chief Fred Ajudua power of attorney to sell their lands.
They came with different placards with inscriptions: ‘Delta State Government rescue Akwukwu-Igbo from hands of Fred Ajudua’; ‘Fred Ajudua leave Okotomi land in Akwukwu-Igbo alone’; ‘Delta State House of Assembly save Okotomi land from Fred Ajudua’; ‘We reject power of attorney in Okotomi land of Akwukwu-Igbo’; ‘Governor Sheriff save our land’; ‘Fred Ajudua don’t dare us, relocate yourself to Ibusa’; Fred Ajudua leave our land for us”; ‘Akwukwu-Igbo is about to explode’ and ‘Delta State Government come to our rescue’.