By Austin Ogwuda
…. dismisses the allegation as misleading to cause unnecessary tension
THE Traditional Ruler of Ogwashi-Uku kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Obi Ifechukwude Aninshi Okonjo II has dismissed the claim that he instructed his subjects to register or seek permission from the palace before cultivating their farmlands.
The Palace Secretary, Prince Ifeakanachukwu Emordi made the clarification while speaking with Punch Correspondent on Tuesday.
His words, “No farmer in Ogwashi-Uku has been asked to register, seek permission, or stop legitimate farming anywhere in the kingdom.
“Only those intending to farm on the court-recovered lands are required to obtain permission — purely for security, coordination, and record-keeping purposes.
“The ODA faction’s false publication was deliberately timed to coincide with the on-going ineh (new yam) festival, a calculated attempt to sow division during a sacred period of thanksgiving and unity”.
He alleged that some ODA members of fraudulently selling hundreds of acres of community farmland behind the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, with proceeds allegedly diverted for personal gain.
“Those lands”, he went on, “were later recovered legally and returned for the benefit of the people and future development projects in the community.
“No member of the Obi-in-Council, no Diokpa, and no responsible son or daughter of Ogwashi-Uku supports their desperate attempt to manufacture crisis.
“Their conduct has already been condemned by the Ogwashi-Uku Town Union, which stands firmly with the Obi and the Palace in preserving peace and unity.
“The monarch remains committed to justice, transparency and the development of all sons and daughters of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom”, the Palace Secretary further stated.
Recall that Ogwashi-Uku Development Association (ODA) after a townhall meeting on Saturday condemned in strong terms “the unbecoming attitude of the Palace in intimidating, if not enslaving the people using Judicial and Security privileges”.
In a communique signed by Osamor Patrick Izu, President General; Adigwe Eluemuno Sunday, Secretary General and Nkenchor Timothy, Communique Drafting Chairman stated, “We wonder 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”, according to the said communique.
Source: The Punch
