By Austin Ogwuda
DELTA State government has called on the traditional ruler of Owa kingdom, Obi, Dr Emmanuel Efeizomor and a group of aggrieved indigenes of the community accusing the royal father over alleged land grabbing to sheath their swords, vowing “to get to the root of the matter”.
Special Adviser to the State Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor enjoined the aggrieved parties to sheath their swords, assuring that the State Government would “get to the root of the matter”
Addressing the aggrieved group at his office in Asaba, Uzor told them, “we (Delta State government) have got enough evidence from you that would help us in our investigation process.
I want to commend you for your peaceful disposition so far.
“Meanwhile, we wish to appeal that you continue to maintain the existing peace even as we continue in our investigation”.
Leader of the aggrieved group protesting the alleged land grabbing who is also the Chairman, Owa-Oyibu Development Initiative (Ogha-ni-ihun Oyibu), Benson Nkeki said that the meeting was an aftermath of the group’s protest on the alleged land grabbing by the traditional ruler of Owa Kingdom, Obi Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor.
He said, “As law abiding citizens, we are prepared to give the State Government the benefit of the doubts. If things are not done the way it should, we will continue with our protest even to the National Assembly level and beyond”, he emphatically stated.
Recall that The Townhall recently ran this story, hereunder reproduced
We are initiating both civil, criminal and traditional sanctions against those accusing the Obi of Owa of alleged land grabbing, the Palace vows
By Austin Ogwuda
…. fingers a known politician for fronting the Ahami-Ihun youths to drag the image of the monarch to the mud
THE Owa Royal Palace has warned that it won’t take lightly the orchestrated campaign of calumny against His Royal Majesty, Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II (JP) by a group of rebellious youths under the banner of the so-called ‘Ahami-Ihun Oyibu’ group maliciously accusing the royal father of land grabbing.
As a result, the palace of the Obi has vowed “to commence civil, criminal and traditional actions against the culprits for these libelous publications within and outside Nigeria”.
Addressing a press conference at the NUJ press centre in Asaba on Tuesday, Prince Victor Efeizomor, who represented the monarch made it clear that the throne confers upon the king the authority to make decisions concerning land matters within the kingdom.
His words: “The attention of the palace of the Obi of Owa has been drawn to various social media publications sponsored by an identified politician using some youths within and outside Nigeria to disparage and defame the office and authority of the Obi of Owa; claiming that the Obi of Owa is a land grabber in Owa Oyibu, the traditional headquarters of Owa kingdom.
“Sequel to the above, it has become necessary to correct this narrative for the interest of Owa indigenes and the general public.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Obi of Owa is vested with the traditional authority to perform any transaction pertaining to the alienation of any piece of land in Owa Oyibu.
“The above assertion has been judicially validated at all levels from time immemorial.
“In view of the above, the palace of the Obi shall commence civil, criminal and traditional actions against the culprits for these libelous publications within and outside Nigeria.
“This narrative of land grabbing is a fabrication designed to disparage and defame the royal institution. The public is advised to disregard such libelous claims”, adding that “the Obi of Owa remains committed to justice, fairness and development”.
The position of the palace was summarised thus:
* In recent time, there has been issues of alleged land grabbing in Owa-Oyibu against Owa royal palace.
*This statement is meant to address these lingering issue to set the records straight.
*The palace wishes to use this medium to refute the allegation and accusation of land grabbing by the so-called Ahami-Ihun Oyibu group.
*That His Royal Majesty as the overlord and custodian of Owa and tradition reserves the right to allocate land in Owa for the purpose of development.
*That his Majesty also has the right to reserve lands for the developments in the Owa Kingdom.
*That such land reservation and allocation saw the emergency in Owa community, such institutions as:
University of Delta, Owa Alaro and Owa-Oyibu Campus
The establishment of Federal road staff school, in Owa-Alaro
The establishment of Odogwu Housing Estate, Owa-Oyibu
Federal Housing Estate, Owa-Oyibu
Delta State Independent Electoral Commission Owa-Oyibu
Nigerian Immigration Office, Owa-Oyibu
Directorate of State Security (DSS)
Railway Village, Owa-Oyibu
Julius Berger Site, Owa-Oyibu
Delta State High Court, Owa-Oyibu Division
Ebu-Owa market Owa-Alaro market and Owa-Oyibu market etc
*That His Majesty by virtue of his authority as the Obi of Owa, reserves the right to approve all the lands purchased from private individuals for developing purposes.
* That the allegation of legal grabbing by the Obi of Owa is not only false but a calculated attempt to reduce his estimation before the eyes of the public.
*That the so-called youths of Agham-ihun, Oyibu group are disturbed because they were stopped from encroaching on reserved land in Owa.
*That they have now turned rebellious spreading falsehood among the people of Owa community by harassing and intimidating the elders of the community and the Obi of Owa.
*That these miscreants have constituted a task force that invades individual landed properties to collect and extort illegal fees, popularly called “DEVE” from land developers against the laws of Delta State.
*That the group have constituted a nuisance in the community to the extent of demanding the sack of Owa Royal Palace legal adviser, Owa palace security head, among other demands.
*That this group of youths are currently acting in such a manner that has created fear and tension in the minds of the community people.
*That some of the issues being alleged by this groups are currently pending before the High Courts of competent jurisdiction.
*That the Nigerian Police have also commenced investigation over the activity of these group.
*That the palace upholds the principle of justice, equity, fairness and the rule of law in its local administration of the community.
*That the Owa Royal Palace is open to constructive and intelligent conversation rather [than] the group constituting a judge on to its own case.
*Additional report from The Pond
