Warri – Following last Tuesday’s massive peaceful protest by people of Oghara Kingdom, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State over land illegally acquired by the Nigerian Navy and the subsequent claim by the Nigerian Navy that the disputed land was legally acquired with a valid Certificate of Occupancy ( Cof O) , the Oghara indigenes said, the Certificate of Occupancy being paraded cannot replace legitimacy of land ownership by the people of Oghara Kindgdom.
In a statement issued and signed by the Co-Convener of Oghara Centre for Social Justice (OCSJ) on behalf of Oghara people, Rev. David Ugolor said the Certificate of Occupancy cannot replace legitimacy of ownership of ancestral land of the people which for centuries has remained their only source of livelihood.
“We take note of an attempt by the Nigerian Navy Logistic Command in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area, Delta State of Nigeria trying to misinform the public by circulating Certificate of Occupancy they purportedly got from the Delta State Government which from our understanding was hurriedly and surreptitiously secured late last year after the Oghara Community raised an alarm over the land grab and massive destruction of economic crops by the Nigerian Navy. To us in Oghara Kingdom, that certificate is illegal.”
“Against the backdrop of militancy in the Niger Delta and dwindling fortunes in oil resources, government has been encouraging Niger Delta youths to return to agriculture and farming as alternative to oil. How can the same government come to grab the agricultural land of the people hiding under Certificate of Occupancy? This is absurd and unacceptable in today’s Nigeria .” Oghara Centre for Social Justice stated in the statement.
The James Ibori kinsmen also lauded the rapid response of the Delta State Government in dispatching a high-level Government delegation to Oghara to meet with the Royal Highness, the Ovie of Oghara to assure the people of the Government’s intention to commence an investigation to ascertain the validity of Nigerian Navy’s claim to having Certificate of Occupancy(C of O) purportedly issued by the Delta State Government
“We, therefore wish to restate our demands that the Delta State Government and the Federal Government to order the Nigerian Navy to stop further destruction of the only source of livelihood of Oghara people. The Navy cannot hide under the guise that they want to build housing estate for their men, school and whatever to grab such a massive land in the heart of Oghara. The Navy was established to protect the people and their rights, not to destroy their rights.” The statement said.
“We therefore call on the Federal Government to commence an immediate investigation into the Land grab in Oghara involving the Nigerian Navy and use the current peace that is existing in the Oghara Kingdom to reach out to all stakeholders to ensure that the right of the people is protected, before the impasse goes out of hand. We decided to give a break to our protest to enable the Governor, His Excellency Gov Okowa to walk the talk he promised the Royal Highness , the Ovie of Oghara Kingdom while the protest was ongoing in Oghara.” Ugolor said in the statement.
“While we await the Federal and Delta State Governments official positions on the matter which we believe would be to take proactive steps to build trust between the people of Oghara and the Nigerian Navy, we urge all well meaning Nigerians and the International Community to join the people of Oghara whose Land and only means of livelihood is being forcefully taken to appeal to the Nigerian Navy to stop harassing and intimidating our people and return our Land to us.”
Recall that on Tuesday 25th July 2016, the Oghara Kingdom erupted in a massive peaceful protest to publicly demand the return of their ancestral land which they said was illegally acquired after several unsuccessful efforts through direct and indirect communications with the Nigerian Navy Logistic Command in Oghara.
Addressing World Press Conference , key members from the Oghara Traditional Council, Oghara Youth Association and Conveners of the Oghara Centre for Social Justice(OCSJ) the following key demands were made: that President, Mohammadu Buhari should order the Nigerian Navy to;
(i) Move back to the area of land initially allocated them
(ii) Remove the fence covering areas far and above 500m x 500m initially allocated to the Navy
(iii) Initiate proceedings to pay damages and compensation to our community members who have suffered loss and trauma for the infraction and trespass on our lands
(iv) Refrain from further despoiling and destroying cash crops on our lands which form the mainstay of income for our people.
(v) Return our illegally acquired lands to us in the interest of peace in Oghara land and Delta State.
However , the Oghara indigenes however, said they were favourably disposed to peaceful resolution of the impasse.
“We remain committed to peaceful resolution of the illegal acquisition of our ancestral land and also wish to restate that the Nigerian Navy’s illegal LAND GRAB in Oghara Kingdom will not be acceptable and we will use all legitimate means to defend our God –given asset which no government can take away from them”.
