…Assures speedy intervention
The Delta State Government on Monday called for calm over the recent land dispute between some landowners and estate developers in Ugbolu Community, Oshimili North Local Government Area, assuring residents of a swift intervention.
The Director of Protocol, Chief Sunday Onoriode, made the appeal while addressing protesters at Government House, Asaba, where they had gathered to present their grievances.
Speaking on behalf of Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Onoriode commended the protesters for their peaceful conduct, noting that they had chosen the appropriate channel to air their concerns.
“I want to sincerely thank you for bringing your complaints and concerns to Government House, Asaba. I am pleased that you did not take the law into your own hands, and I urge you to remain peaceful,” he said.
He assured the protesters that the governor, a firm advocate of the rule of law, would give the matter due attention and ensure that justice is upheld.
“I have heard all you have said. As you know, our governor is a law-abiding citizen, and I can assure you that he will look into this matter and ensure that justice is served,” he added.
Earlier, the leader of the protesters, a legal practitioner and lecturer, Dr. Ofili Okweose, said they were at Government House to express their grievances over the alleged wrongful acquisition of their lands and the unlawful demolition of their properties.
He explained that the affected lands, spanning hundreds of hectares and owned by thousands of individuals mostly civil servantsvhad been peacefully occupied for up to two decades without dispute until recently.
“Our concern is that we acquired lands in Ubulu-Amachai quarters and have used them for 20, 15, even 10 years without hindrance. Nobody ever challenged us, and there was no contention whatsoever,” he stated.
“Just a few weeks ago, someone brought in bulldozers not one, not two, but up to ten clearing the entire area and carving it into a layout,” he added.
According to him, investigations indicated that some officials in the Ministry of Lands had been corresponding with members of the Ubulu community, creating the impression that the land was under government acquisition.
“But we know that government does not acquire land to hand over to estate developers for private business. If that happens, the court will nullify it. That is far from a legitimate government acquisition,” he insisted.
He alleged that certain individuals were colluding with some community elements and estate developers to unlawfully sell the land under the guise of a state-backed project.
“The summary of what is happening is that some unscrupulous senior civil servants are using the name of the state, in collaboration with some elements in Ubulu and estate developers, to sell our land,” he said.
Dr. Okweose also questioned the legitimacy of the project, citing the absence of official markings or documentation typically required for government projects.
“If you visit the site, you will not see any signage. By law, every government project must display details such as the nature of the project, the client, contractor, and consultant. Nothing like that is there,” he noted.
He further condemned the manner in which the demolition was allegedly carried out, describing it as violent and unlawful.
“You can imagine up to ten bulldozers operating at night, with dogs and men armed with pump-action guns. Does the government operate that way? They are destroying crops and buildings, all in the name of the state government,” he lamented.
The legal practitioner disclosed that the matter had been reported to the Delta State Police Command but claimed no action had been taken, prompting the peaceful protest.
The protest ended peacefully, with the demonstrators expressing hope that the Delta State Government would urgently address their concerns.
