Indigenes of Aladja Community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State on friday called on the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Federal Government of Nigeria to come and help them demarcate boundary between them and Ogbe-Ijoh people in Warri South-West Local Government Area.
The people made the call during a peaceful protest in Aladja Community
They said both present and previous governments in Delta State have failed them.
“President Bola Tinubu,come to our aid. Delta Government have failed us”,” We are calling on the Federal Government to come to our rescue”.
The Protesters danced from the Aladja Community town hall through Ekorhion Quartetrs down to the Waterside as they chanted solidarity songs.
The protesters were led in the protest by Comrade Shell Okakotu GodFirst, President of Aladja Community Council, Mr. Akpojotor Okololo, 1st Deputy Oghuvwie of Aladja Community and Mr. Lori German, Secretary of Traditional Council in Aladja.
They said,””Ogbe-Ijoh give peace a chance. War is destructive. Peace is priceless. Ogbe-Ijoh allow peace to reign between us”.
The protesters also appealed to the people of Ogbe-Ijoh Community to allow peace to reign for the disputed land to be demarcated.
The peaceful protesters beard placards with inscriptions,”The land belongs to Aladja”,”Major Solomon be neutral in the crisis”, Ogbe-Ijoh doesn’t have an inch of land there”,”Governor Sheriff give Aladja her land back”,Delta Government knows the truth but playing politics with the crisis”,” Governor Sheriff do what is right, truthful and just”,”Hon. Taye Tuoyo stop using the military against Aladja for Ogbe-Ijoh”,”Hon. Taye, God will hold you accountable for any death from now on”,”The Nigeria Army must be neutral, truthful and fair in the matter”,”demarcate the land or leave the court case to end”,”The secretariat project is not more important than the peace”,”Aladja owns the entire land of Ogbe-Ijoh yet we are the ones being oppressed by government”,”Hon. Taye stop causing trouble for Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh” and “Ogbe-Ijoh stopped the demarcation and attacked Aladja. Government must bring them to book “
In a chat with newsmen, the President-General of Aladja Community, Prince Ibrahim Dumudje said they staged the peaceful protest to let the world know the level of oppression being meted on Aladja Community by the Delta State Government and the people of Ogbe-Ijoh Community.
Prince Dumudje who was represented by the 2nd Vice President-General of Aladja Leaders of Thoughts, Dr. Richard Lafua noted that a meeting was held at the Army barracks in Effurun and an agreement was reached that the entire land in dispute be demarcated.
Prince Dumudje pointed out that no action have been taken since after the meeting but they(Aladja) people only see further encroachments on the disputed land by some government agents especially the Chairman of Warri South-West Council,Hon. Taye Tuoyo whom he said is allegedly pitching the military against Aladja Community. “We find this very embarrassing that a government official is doing this.”
According to Prince Dumudje, Aladja Community agreed that the disputed land be demarcated but they have waited patiently for the Delta State Government to take action.
Prince Dumudje said Aladja Community which he christened as a peaceful and loving have been maltreated for years over its own land by the people of Ogbe-Ijoh Community who want to take their lands from them by force.
“We have also willing to let go portion of the land for purpose of peace. Even with this, government is not forthcoming.”
While noting that it is the responsibility of government to ensure the protection of lives and properties, Prince Dumudje said,”They’re simply just interested in bloodshed.”
He emphasised that the Warri South-West Council Chairman, “Hon. Taye Tuoyo have been allegedly using some men which he believes are military men to ensure that Aladja is coarsed to let goods go for the development of the disputed land. We feel this is very insulting.”
He appealed to the Delta State Governor, RT Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to as a matter of urgency intervene in the matter and see that the disputed land is demarcated peacefully.
The President of Aladja Community Council, Comrade Shell Okakotu GodFirst also in a chat with newsmen said,”The Delta State Government is weak to take decisions” over the disputed land which has been causing crisis with many feard dead over the years.
“They’re to take decision. So, it’s better the Federal Government come and take decision for meaningful development to take place.”
While noting that there can be development only in an environment where there’s peace, Comrade GodFirst said,”We call on the federal government to come into the land,look it and demarcate it because we are afraid”.
Comrade GodFirst who noted that the right flank of the land was demarcated peacefully, expressed surprise that the left flank hasn’t been demarcated till date .
“The State Government is not ready to settle the matter”he said.
Aladja Community Youth leader, Reuben Fourie and a woman leader in the Community,Mrs. Ruth Christopher said the age long crisis between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh Communities have affected them economically, mentally, financially and otherwise just as they called on the Urhobo Progress Union,UPU, Worldwide and all Urhobo indigenes both home and abroad to come to the rescue of Aladja Community and ensure that their land is not taken away from them by strangers who made many of their children fatherless as well as caused the deaths of many for the past twenty seven years.
Douro said,”We are calling on the federal government to help us demarcate this land so that the two Communities can be at peace with each other.”
Mrs. Christopher said the military have been threatening them in their own land given to them by God Almighty.
