Tuesday, June 3, 2025 - Over 50 indigenes of Owa-Oyibo community, Delta state have petition the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori over alleged illegal sale of their ancestral lands by their traditional ruler and members of the royal household.
Raising an alarm, the residents staged a protest alleging
that the Obi of Owa Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Emmanuel Efeizomor II, oversees
the sale of communal and private lands without the consent of local landowners.
The protesters led by Nkeki Uzor Benson, a former councillor
and current chairman of the Owa-Oyibo Development Initiative, (ODI), described
the alleged sale as a betrayal of the people’s trust which he said must stop.
They also submitted a petition to the Speaker of the State
House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor.
Nkeki said the community had endured years of intimidation
and silence, with many afraid to speak out against the influential royal
family.
“We can no longer keep quiet. Our ancestral lands, which
have sustained generations, are being sold to wealthy investors while our
people remain in poverty.”
“This is not just about land. It is about justice and the
future of our children. If this is happening under the current leadership, what
will the next generation inherit?” Nkeki stated.
He alleged that farmland is being converted into luxury
estates, with the original landowners seeing no benefits.
Nkeki said the Speaker acknowledged receipt and promised to
work on the matter.
The group also threatened that they may take their protest
to the National Assembly in Abuja and even approach foreign embassies,
including those of the US, UK, and France, if their concerns are not addressed.
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