…Calls Perpetrators to Order
BY EUNICE EMEYAZIA
Members of the public have been called upon to disregard the widely circulated reports of alleged land grabbing against the Owa royal palace, in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, saying the report is false and maliciously intended.
The call is coming on the heels of a lingering issue of alleged land grabbing in Owa-Oyibu, levelled against the Owa royal palace, by a group under the auspices of Ahami-Ihun Oyibu, allegedly headed by one Mr Benson Nkeeki
Setting the records straight, in a briefing with journalists on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, the second son of the Obi of Owa, Prince Victor Efeizomor, refuted the allegation and accusation of land grabbing, noting that Obi Efeizomor the second, as the overlord and custodian of Owa and tradition, reserved the right and traditional authority to reserve and allocate land in Owa for the purpose of development in the Kingdom.
While stating that the assertion had been validated from time immemorial, Prince Efeizomor said such land reservation and allocation resulted in the spring up of developmental institutions such as the University of Delta, Owa Alaro and Owa-Oyibu Campus, the Federal road staff school, in Owa-Alero, the Odogwu Housing Estate, Owa-Oyibu, Federal Housing Estate, Owa-Oyibu, Delta State Independent Electoral Commission DSIEC, Owa-Oyibu, Nigerian Immigration Office, Owa-Oyibu, Directorate Of state Security (DSS), Railway Village, Owa Oyibu, Julius Berger Site, Owa-Oyibu, Delta State High Court, Owa-Oyibu division and other major markets across Owa.
Reading a statement from the palace Prince Efeizomor said the Obi of Owa, by virtue of his position, also reserved the right to approve all the lands purchased from private individuals for development purposes, as it was part of efforts to verify land purchases and protect land developers from unsuspecting miscreants.
He said land has become a thriving business in Owa Oyibu following recent infrastructural investments by government, hence the unintelligent youths used by some politicians during elections, have out of hunger and lack of what to do, delved into indiscriminate sale of lands, including allotted cemetery, which prompted the palace to take necessary action.
The statement said the unregistered group made up of faceless youths, have as a result, resorted to spreading falsehood among the people of Owa community, causing disaffection among indigenes in the diaspora who do not have full grasp of the situation on ground, harassing and intimidating the elders of the community and the Obi of Owa, to the extent of demanding the sack of the Owa Royal Palace legal adviser, security head, among other demands.
According to the statement, the said group constituted a task force that invaded individual landed properties to collect and extort illegal fees, popularly called “DEVE” from land developers, which is against the laws of Delta State, and had continued to issue threats to individuals who fail to co-operate with them, spreading fear and tension in the peaceful community.
The Owa palace maintained that the allegation of land grabbing against the Obi of Owa is not only false but a calculated attempt to reduce his estimation before the eyes of the public, stating that some of the issues being alleged by the Ahami-Ihun Oyibu, were currently pending before the Courts of competent jurisdiction, while the Nigerian Police had also commenced investigation into the activities of the group.
The palace reiterated it’s commitment to upholding the principles of justice, equity, fairness and the rule of law in its local administration of the community, saying that it was open to constructive and intelligent conversation, if the group felt aggrieved by any perceived infraction
Speaking on the foundations of the Owa kingdom, Prince Efeizomor said Owa, a federation of clans under a central monarchy, has seen Kings before the current Obi, who is the 17th Obi of Owa, noting that Efeizomor the 2nd is a man of proven character and integrity, well read and highly spoken of by high ranking members of society, having served as the Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council for 13years, warning that the Palace would not sit back and allow anyone tarnish the image of its revered Obi.
NIM
