The Oghara Traditional Council in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta has urged the state government to prevail on the Itsekiris in Warri North over land ownership
to avoid possible breakdown of law and order.
The traditional council made the call in a statement signed by its Secretary, Chief Frank Emiko and made available to newsmen after a short briefing on Wednesday in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state.
The council alleged illegal and unlawful handing over of a vast expanse of Oghara land located at Otegbo village, which the Itsekiris also called “Obitugbo,” to the Nigerian Army by the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse 111.
“About a week ago, our people were alarmed to hear over the electronic and print media that Olu of Warri Kingdom has ceded a large expanse of Oghara land situated at Otegbo village to the Nigerian Army.
“For the construction of a military barack in utter disregard for the unresolved dispute between the Urhobos and Itsekiris over the ownership of the lands at Ajagbodudu and Otegbo,” the chiefs said.
They said that there was a subsisting judgement on the land in favour of the people of Oghara Kingdom.
“We demand an immediate cessation of the actions and activities of this encroachments in whatever guise or coloration,” they said.
The traditional council warned that Oghara people would not accept, under any guise, the annexation of an inch of her territory as being orchestrated by the Itsekiris through their king.
The chiefs said that Oghara people were provoked by the act which, according to them, was capable of escalating the already tensed situation into an unimaginable proportion.
They explained that the Delta government and institutions of governments at both state and federal levels were aware of the issues relating to the disputed land.
“We had earlier in one of our numerous letters disclosed plans by the Itsekiris in Warri North to establish a private University in the Oghara land territory of Otegbo.
“It was our unequivocal demand then that all construction and activities being carried out by the Itsekiris.
“Particularly by one Mr Godwin Ebosa on any portion of Oghara land territory of Otegbo be frozen in the interim pending findings and resolution by the state Boundary Committee on the matter.
“It is on record that after our presentation to the Boundary Committee, awaiting Itsekiris to do same
“The Itsekiris in desperate pursuit of expansionist tendencies brazenly went ahead with their plans to purportedly site the proposed University which they called the “Warri University” on the Oghara land.
“Notwithstanding the unconcluded investigation being conducted by the Boundary Committee as directed by the Office of the Vice President.
“We have for a very long time prevail on our people to eschew violence and tow the part of peace and legality unlike has been witnessed in some parts of the state where similar disputed are ongoing,” the chiefs said.
They, however, expressed worries over the unconcerned disposition of the state government to address the land issues once and for all.
The traditional council headed by the Ovie of Oghara Kingdom, Noble Eshimetan, Orefe 111 led journalists to the disputed land for an on-the-spot assessment.
Reacting to the Oghara claims, a senior palace chief of the Olu of Warri, Chief Brown Mene, said that the Oghara people were only making a “spurious claim,” and crying wolf where there’s none.
“Ask them to show you the court judgement? The gazette line was called Jackson Line.
“The boundary between Oghara and the Itsekiris is before Ajagbodudu and that makes Ajagbodudu down to Obitugbo Itsekiri land,” Mene said.
and then