The executive Chairmen of Andoni Local Government Council, Sir. Hon. Orom Nte Ereforokuma and Asari-Toru Local Government Council, Hon. Ojukaye Flag Amachree have been respectively accused of forcefully claiming and taking over both community and individuals land in their separate local Government areas.
Sir. Orom Nte Ereforokuma of Andoni according to report reaching The Newswriter was said to have cleared large portions of land belonging to Ama-Esuuk in Andoni Local Government Area for a purported fish farm by the state government and a private school to be manned by his wife without due consultation, negotiation and of course adequate compensation.
Speaking to this weekly the paramount ruler of Ama-Esuuk HRH Gogo Mkponkiweek Felix lamented the Chairman’s courage to have cleared his community’s land for such project without consulting with him and the community.
HRH Gogo Mkponkiweek Felix told The Newswriter that, the Chairman assembled certain communities on the island for information relating to the land issues but failed to recognize Ama-Esuuk that has larger portions of land than others.
According to the paramount ruler, Gogo Mkponkiweek Felix, the Chairman have held the discussion with others who misunderstood that every land has a natural mark or boundary, but went on to trespass on Ama-Esuuk land for his selfish motives.
He further claim that a community named Gomkiri is controlled by the chairman’s family from Ngo and is situated behind Ama-Esuuk on the boundary, saying that at the time of clearing the land, two-third of the land mass so cleared belong to his community, Ama-Esuuk.
Felix said he is calling on the State governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to intervene without delay to quell the people’s anger, since according to him the Chairman, Orom Ereforokuma is not listening to the community’s quest for peace-talk.
The community leader said “land issues are very serious matters therefore, we will not fold our hands and watch the chairman destroy our lands.”
In his reaction when contacted the Chairman Hon. Orom Nte Ereforokuma told The Newswriter that the Council had discussion with the affected communities on the island with an agreement of no compensation whatsoever.
According to the Chairman, the affected communities accepted the development in good fate, but wonder how some communities could now come up for protest against earlier agreement.
The chairman who spoke through his Director of communication, Mrs. Doreen John Maxwell advised all affected communities to desist from trouble and allow development to set into the local government.
In a related development, troubled is raging high in Buguma, headquarters of Asari-Toru Local Government Area over Hon. Ojukaye flag Amachree’s alleged forceful claims of individual’s land.
According to reports at the disposal of The Newswriter, Hon. Ojukaye flag Amachree now claims people’s land for his kinsmen and his private use, but those who could not close eyes on what they described as barbaric and inhumane are crying out for possible intervention.
One of such individuals includes a former councilor in the area Hon. Dimabo Atiegoba who according to him his land located near the Trans-Kalabari High way was sold to other indigene by the chairman.
Hon. Dimabo Atiegoba told The Newswriter that his several attempts to let the chairman Ojukaye flag Amachree realize his plight proved abortive hence his decision to cry out for possible assistance.
Hon. Atiegoba told this weekly that, his land measuring about which was used for garri processing and fish farm respectively was an approved land from the State Ministry of Lands and Housing with every legal document.
The former lawmaker in the area accused the ASALGA boss of using the powers within his ambit to undo the less privilege without regard to even constituted authorities. He further alleged that the land where Ojukaye’s personal house is built was council’s land.
While urging the council boss to refrain from any ill activities, the former lawmaker also warned him against taking every advice from his supervisor for lands and Housing Hon. David George.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that Ojukaye had fallen out with the Amanyanabo of Kalabari HRH King T.J.T Princewill over street hawking in the area.
The Amanyanabo, The Newswriter gathered had given a counter order to an earlier one given by the council boss against street hawking in the intreast of the elderly.
According to our source close to the council boss, Ojukaye, the King was considering the plight of the elderly when he sent out the community’s town crier
The Newswriter further gathered that the King’s town crier never saw the light of the day as he was purportedly beaten black and blue by boys loyal to the chairman.
All efforts to get the Flag Ojukaye’s reaction proved abortive as his chief press secretary, Prince Asi Dateme severally declined comments on the issues. ###
