By Chukwudi Asoya
ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has assured of the government’s intervention in the boundary dispute between Okpanam and neighboring communities and towns.
The state government gave the charge through the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Dr. Kingsley Emu while responding to the appeal made by the Okpanam youths led by the President-General of Okpanam Youths Organisation, Comrade Lucky Okolo who staged a peaceful protest at Government House against forceful encroachment into Okpanam community land.
Senator Okowa said that the State Government was pleased with the manner and way the youths comported themselves, adding that protest was a welcome idea.
He stated that it was a way of expressing one’s feelings towards issues and events and promised the state government’s intervention by channeling the boundary dispute to its legal team for proper study, investigation, and handling.
Speaking earlier, Comrade Lucky Okolo congratulated the governor-elect, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori on his recent electorial victory at the just concluded general elections.
He stated that the main aim of the peaceful protest was to draw the attention of the state government towards checkmating the nefarious activities of Chief Fred Ajudua and his sister, Barr. (Mrs) Kate Onianwa, the Delta state Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Developments over forceful entry into Okpanam community lands in both Obodogba quarters and Obodogwugwu quarters of Okpanam community within the state capital territory.
The President-General said Chief Fred Ajudua through his activities and mode of operation had introduced terrorism into the Okpanam community, especially in Obodogba and Obodogwugwu farmlands within the state capital.
He said that there had been calculated violent attacks on innocent citizens, molestation, and intimidation of land owners and property developers in the area with the boundaries of Obodogba and their Umu-Isagba part of Ibusa.
Comrade Okolo said Chief Fred Ajudua some time ago boasted that he had forcefully acquired and conquered the people of Ogbeowelle village of Obodogwugwu quarters up to the Okpanam post office area which is visibly the heart of the Okpanam community.
He said the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Development, Barr. (Mrs) Kate Onianwa in collaboration with her brother, Chief Barr. Fred Ajudua, consistently made it difficult for the representatives of both communities as well as security agencies who were interested in amicably resolving communal conflicts to continue.
Comrade Okolo noted that the commissioner had been using her position unduly to prevent aggrieved communities to achieve peace , stressing that she had always bluffed them whenever they sought her intervention.
Comrade Okolo said the land grabbers, Chief Fred Ajudua in connivance with her sister, Barr. Kate Onianwa, had been parading a supreme court judgment wrongly interpreted to deceive people and it had been seriously causing problems and provocatively threatening the peace and harmony that once existed between both communities.
He further appealed to the authorities to checkmate the activities of these land grabbers and their cohorts before it would snowball into a serious breakdown of law and order.
