Tens of Okere-Urhobo indigenes in Warri, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, on Thursday June 8, protested against alleged grabbing of their land by Delta State government.
They insisted that the state government should “stop using our hungry brothers to sell our future and that of our children.”
The indigenes, who carried leaves and placards, with inscriptions such as: “Land Grabbing is a Crime”, “Okere- Urhobo people are peace loving, but not Stupid”, marched through parts of Airport Road, Warri, insisting, “if the purpose of acquiring the land from our community has changed, the state government should return it to us.”
According to them, the areas allegedly grabbed by the Delta State government and purportedly sold to cronies of the state government, stretch “along Airport Road from Board of Internal Revenue, to State (Delta) School of Nursing, to Shell (SPDC) Edjeba.”
Addressing journalists, former Youth President of Okere Urhobo Kingdom, from 1999-2008, Comrade Festus Otesiri Igherebuo, accused the Delta State government of selling the land to some individuals, saying the law stipulates that if the land is no longer utilized for the purpose it was acquired, it should be given back to the community.
He stated: “This land was acquired by Bendel State government, for the purpose of building a Warri Specialist Hospital and a Stadium, but it was not utilized and was transferred to Delta State government, when the state was created. The former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, later built Board of Internal Revenue, State School of Nursing and incomplete Ultra-Modern Park.
“We want government to continue to site developmental projects on the land, for the purpose it was meant, not to share the land among themselves.
“We have written several letters to the state government on this issue, but there has been no response, we are aware that some of our brothers, are aiding the government to grab the land for themselves, but it won’t be tolerated.
“Okere Urhobo, is known for peace and hospitality to its neighbours, legal action will be taken, if the land is not given back to our community.”
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