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By Christopher Oji
The people of Issele-Azagba community in Aniocha North Local Government, Delta State, have urged a business tycoon from the South East , to stop the ongoing bulldozing of over 1.3 kilometer farmlands in their kingdom.
The community said the businessman ,has the intention of taking it over their land for private investment, instead of toeing the path of peace by engaging the community in the hopes of doing the needful.
The businessman has proposed to use the land which has allegedly been in controversy between Issele-Azagba people and Okpanam – a community in Oshimili North Local Government , for his Estate development in the state, but instead, encroached into a large expanse belonging to Issele-Azagba and away from the controversial portion.
The community, has therefore, warned the businessman and his group to stop boasting that they have the backings of the state government to confiscate the vast farmland without recourse to the original owners.
President-General of Issele-Azagba Development Union (IADU), Elder Patrick Isichei, supported by 20 other chieftains of the kingdom’s Boundary Committee at a press conference in Asaba to protest the alleged injustice, said the community wants development, but rejects the forceful entry of the businessman into their ancestral land.
He urged businessman to stop bulldozing the farmlands of the community until he follows due process of land acquisition.
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The PG said, “The man and his group have entered the heart of Issele-Azagba farmlands and destroyed properties to the chagrin of the indigenes. We are not anti-government or against investment. This is our ancestral land, our heritage. The man should know that this cannot happen in the community where he comes from. He should do the needful.”
Also answering questions, Austin Ikechukwu Ijei blamed the businessman for allegedly conniving with their neighbouring Okpanam kingdom in Oshimili North LGA to disobey the decision of the state’s Land/Boundary Committee that stipulated status-quo on the disputed land between Issele-Azagba and Okpanam kingdoms.
He said Issele-Azagba contributed to the installation of successive administrations in the state, and as such should not be taken for granted.
“Government of the state should tell Issele-Azagba on which side it belongs to . The man that is forcefully taking over our land is not from Delta. We own the land ,but government gives Certificate of Occupancy. We demand justice. Is Okpanam community more Deltan than Issele-Azagba? We have documented evidence to prove that the land belongs to us and not Okpanam. It is unfortunate that the government we ran to for help is now sitting on the fence”, he said.
He further lamented that Issele-Azagba was deceived into remaining law abiding after the Deputy Governor of the state, Sir Monday Onyeme, who is the chairman of the State’s Land/Boundary Committee, said Boundary Adjustment exercise would soon be completed.
Ijei vowed that the community would deploy all available legal and legitimate means to protect their heritage from land grabbers, should the businessman refuses to follow due process.
