By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City.
The Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) Worldwide,has reacted to the recent Save Our Soul, (SOS), message to governor Godwin Obaseki and His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare 11, Oba of Benin by the people of Obazuwa Utugberu Community of Obazuwa Dukedom in Ovia North East Local government Area of Edo State.
The community in the Save Our Soul,( SOS), to the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki and His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare 11, Oba of Benin, has called on them to intervene in the unholy several deadly attacks by Ijaw extraction and settlers in Ikoro community.
The community made the call during a town hall meeting which took place at Obazuwa Utugberu Community.
The community Leaders which constits of the elders, women and the youths appealed to the Royal Majesty , Oba Ewuare 11 , and the governor, Godwin Obaseki to come to their rescue as they are being attacked on daily basis by the Ijaw settlers.
They said, ” the Ijaw settlers/ strangers use guns to drive them from farm. The Ijaw settlers also sold the Royal Majesty land to one Mr Abu Yesufu without the knowledge of the community people.
Reacting to the call, President Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) Worldwide
Elder Curtis Eghosa Ugbo, said, Palace machineries have been put in place to retrieve all Oba of Benin Palace land that has been encroached into by land grabbers.
“I want to use this medium to inform the general public that our Royal Father, the Oba of Benin KINGDOM has mandated Mr. Frank Irabor and my team to ensure that land grabbers that has encroached on any Oba of Benin Palace land are brought to justice, and we advice residence in Benin Kingdom to desist henceforth.
He advised those that have encroached into the Oba of Benin Palace land in Obazuwa Utugberu Community of Obazuwa Dukedom in Ovia North East Local government Area of Edo State to report to the Office of the Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) with immediate effect, starting from Monday 17th May, 2021.
“The Oba of Benin Palace are in the possession of records of all landed properties belonging to the Palace across the Kingdom.
“In view of this development, any land grabbers, wherever you are from should be ready for us because we are coming and we will make sure we retrieve all Oba of Benin Palace land that has been encroached into by anybody no matter the personality involved.
“You cannot come into Oba kingdom, tempered into Oba of Benin Palace land and go free because you want to do business in the Kingdom, we won’t allow that in Benin Kingdom,” he warned.
Going further, Elder Ugbo said, “I am using this medium to tell those perpetrators that have entered or encroached on Oba of Benin Palace land to quickly come to the Palace of the Oba of Benin and regularised their documents with the Office of the Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) as from Monday 17th May, 2021 by 12 noon prompt.
“Those land grabbers in Benin Kingdom should have a rethink and relocate elsewhere as we are ready with all apparatus in our disposal to reclaim all Oba of Benin Palace land that has been encroached into by land grabbers”, he warned.