By ONYEKACHUKWU MELUWA, Warri
The Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM. Emmanuel Sideso Abe I and his subjects
on Monday August 28 called on the Nigerian Army and Navy to return their
185.20 acres of land illegally acquired, stolen, before they will dialogue with them.
The monarch who joined his subjects in peaceful protest which started
at 7am, made the call in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta
State warned that the Uvwie people will no longer accept the outright
impunity of the Nigerian Army. We can no longer accept to be tenants
in our land.”
HRM. Sideso accused the Army of allegedly selling the said lands which
is under litigation to public private individuals.
HRM. Sideso noted that the Nigerian Army acquired and stole the 185.20
Acres of land in 1974 after an initial parcel of land was allocated to
them under the guise of building the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA
without compensation which same was later built in Kaduna State.
“The Uvwie people have always followed the path of peace and dialogue
despite provocative actions by the Army and Navy and their agents
stressing that,” We are peace loving people. We have taken several
steps to make the Nigerian Army see reason(s) why they need to
de-acquire the unused and extra la d which they have subsequently
fraudulently converted to private, commercial and business use reaping
millions of Naira into their coffers to the detriment of the Uvwie
people who seek the same for farming and other agricultural activities
which is today the focal point of the present day government.”
Former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Victor
Otomiewo and the President General of Uvwie Kingdom, Uvwie, Chief
Austine.T. Ukuwere corroborated the monarch”.
