BENIN-CITY/Nigeria: The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Deacon Barr Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, has called on stakeholders in the Delta/Edo interstate boundary disputes to renew their commitment for the advancement of the boundary delineation exercise.
Deacon Otuaro made the call during a joint meeting of officials on the Delta/Edo interstate boundary disputes held in Government House, Benin City, Edo State.
The deputy Governor who appreciated the officials of the national boundary commission for fixing the meeting after a long time, reminded stakeholders that the last of such joint meeting under the supervision of the commission was held in Asaba in 2016, over two and half year ago, saying that salient issue bordering on human and property rights, security breaches and general maintenance of law and order where discussed.
He lamented that considerable length of time was being expended in the boundary delineation process involving the two states which may not be unconnected with the boundary dispute and the need to ensure that a suitable and diligent exercises was not sacrificed on the altar of expediency.
“From the series of communiqués issued after various joint meetings held with the national boundary commission, both state were enjoined to maintain the status quo in areas where there are disputes as a means of achieving peace, pending the completion of the delineation process,” even as he stated that recurrent resolution had been breached by Edo state.
He stated that granting of a Certificate of Occupancy to Presco Plc in 2013, of land not owned by Edo state community had generated unhealthy situations by the activities of Presco Plc from 2015, 2016 and 2017 and had led to persistent break down of law and order in the Ethiope river axis.
The Deputy Governor also stated that the granting of C of O to Presco Plc made the company act with impudence, impunity and audacity against Delta communities.
“It is my sincere advice that undue relevance on legal notices and the result of plotting on maps will be misleading and there is need to carry out a comprehensive field work and consideration of other documents that are relevant to the issue, for instance, the conclusion that Ogiopa Forest Reserve be given to Edo state, because the plotting of the forest reserve fell into the old Benin province is not acceptable.” Deacon Otuaro stated.
The Deputy Governor revealed that Delta state has before now, submitted a document to the National Boundary Commission, which showed that four of its communities contributed land in the constitution of Ogiopa Forest Reserve as against two communities from the present Edo state.
He added that Delta state insisted that there should be a follow up to previously accepted positions as entertained by the resolutions of earlier communiqués as he believe that resolutions in previous communiqués were reached after extensive deliberations, evaluations and considerations, opining that subsequent progress should take such resolution as a starting point for the advancement of the process.
On his part, the Deputy Governor of Edo state, Rt. Hon. Philip Shuaibu, commended the efforts of the Director-General, National Boundary Commission, Dr Muhammad Ahmad, for harkening to the call of Edo and Delta States Government to expedite action in resolving the lingering boundary dispute between the two sister state of Edo and Delta.
Rt. Hon. Shuaibu also commended the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Deacon Barr Kingsley Otuaro, for his relentless efforts and cooperation “In our collective resolve to ensure official demarcation of the boundary of our two state, It will be recalled that on Tuesday 17th July 2018, your excellence and I, led our state boundary officials and other stakeholders in the Delta/Edo interstate boundary to a joint meeting which was held here in this hall.”
He added, “That meeting which was fruitful and successful could be best described as a family affair in view of the fact that Edo and Delta state originated from the same source that is, the defunct Bendel state and earlier Midwest region.
“Any time the two states meet in such a manner it’s like home coming of brothers. There is no doubt that it is in that spirit that we are making fast progress in the resolution of the boundary dispute between Edo and Delta State.”
The Edo State Deputy Governor added that Edo state is a peace loving state as the government under the leadership of the governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has ensured that peace prevails throughout the state and as usual, the state government will continue to enjoin her people, especially those in the border axis of the state to co-exist peacefully with their border neighbours even in the face of any provocation.
