The placard-carrying protesters, led by the President General of the Ogwashi-Uku Development Association (ODA), Sir Patrick Osamor and the Secretary General, Mazi Adigwe Eluemunor, took their petition to Government House, Asaba.
Their document read: “Our attention has been drawn to a secret Court judgement at faraway Owa Oyibo, Ika South Local Government Area, in a case between Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo and Prince Ifeakanachukwu Emordi Vs Persons Unknown, which grants the Petitioners possession (ownership) of “all lands of Ogwashi-Uku.
“This Court judgement was followed up by obtaining authority to take possession of the lands and subsequent condoning and bulldozing of lands in some quarters recently.
“The judgement has become disturbing since Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo or his agents have commenced taking possession of the lands, sending away our people from their ancestral farm lands and harassing others with petitions and consequent police arrests.
“A “Notice and Warning” was issued under the Seal of His Majesty and signed by the Palace Secretary Ifeakanachukwu Emordi, which restricts persons from entering their farmlands unless with the permission of the Palace.
“Before this time the citizens had been terrorised by the Palace and their agents through arrests and Court processes on phantom charges to shut everyone up like slaves in our father’s land. The people who opposed untraditional processes of installing Chiefs (including the Obi himself who untraditionally was installed in place of his elder brother, who was rightful of the position by Ogwashi-Uku customs and traditions) were wrongly accused of criminal charges and made to go through security and Judicial costs using the influence of their sister.
“Ogwashi-Uku has been treated as a personal property of Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo. Compensations, proceeds and donations due to Ogwashi-Uku are not paid into any community account, but managed privately without proper accounting to the people. oThis is what happens to monies received as out of Court negotiations on so called recovered lands without the knowledge and consent of original land owners.
“We are frustrated by the continued delay of the Delta State Government in releasing the White Paper on the outcome of the Judicial Panel of Enquiry set up by the Delta State Government on Land and Traditional Leadership challenges in Ogwashi-Uku.
“This undue delay has emboldened the Obi and his family in suffering the people and claiming their ancestral lands. The people are being suffered because before the Panel they proved that Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo and his younger brother Onyema Okonjo have criminal records and not worthy of being King and Prince over them”.
They prayed the Governor to promptly intervene to stop Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo and his agents from taking over their ancestral lands as personal properties, describing the Owa Oyibo High Court Judgement against “Persons Unknown” as against natural justice and not acceptable to the masses of Ogwashi-Uku, who should not be taken as unknown persons.
The protesters also called for a stop to the continued harassment of the people with the Obi’s contacts in the securities (Police and the Military) and apparatuses of government, noting that the incessant arrests for no just causes and taking victims to Abuja for police investigations were frustrating.
“Stop the spate of “land recoveries” by the Palace unless any Quarter/Village has formally complained to His Majesty and then the Quarter MUST be a party to the case as Plaintiff.
“Stop the ‘NOTICE AND WARNING” issued by the Palace to Ogwashi-Uku citizens, which makes it mandatory that any person who wants land to farm on their ancestral farmlands must obtain permission from the Palace.
“Protect the customs and traditions of Ogwashi-Uku kingdom, especially in installation of Chiefs and the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, a breach of which has cost Ogwashi people decades of disputes and underdevelopment.
“Save Ogwashi-Uku people from perpetual embarrassment of having someone with criminal background as traditional ruler with consequent inferiority complex in the comity of traditional leaders.
“Protect the common man of Ogwashi-Uku from Palace armed men called “Vigilantes” (Lion Squad) and imported mercenaries the Obi and his brother Onyema Okonjo are using to send our people out of their farmlands and attack perceived opposition.
“Grant that each Village (OGBE) with allies takes its right of autonomy if Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo with these enslavement tendencies be continually imposed on Ogwashi-Uku.
“Show the people of Ogwashi-Uku that the Government has listening ears to all petitions of the people to Government on external and internal abuses of Ogwashi-Uku citizens.
“Stop deliberate attempts to forcefully remove Dr Jude Okocha as the Registrar of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, even when all Investigative Panels have exonerated him of all accusations. Government should attend to our petitions and not only produce White Papers but see to execution of the decisions necessary to bring peace and order in the kingdom.
“Ogwashi people are no conquered people. We are being pushed to the wall”.
Responding, Governor sheriff Oborevwori, represented by his Senior Political Adviser, Senator Emmanuel Aguariawodo, restated the resolve government to ensure justice in the leadership and land related crisis bedeviling Ogwashi Uku kingdom over the years.
Governor Oborevwori reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to enthroning peace, justice and unity among the people, and commended the protesters for their peaceful conduct, whike adding that the contentious issues would be addressed speedily to facilitate early return of peace, law and order to the community.
The protesters were also at the Delta State House of Assembly complex where a copy of their petition was presented to the Sergeant – at – Arms for onward presentation to the speaker.
They also visited the secretariat of Aniocha South Local Government, where the reasons for their protest were outlined by the president General of ODA, Sir Patrick Osamor.