Tension heightens in Edo over Okomu Plc’s alleged illegal acquisition of farm land

Eranga Isaac , Benin
Tension has heightened in an Edo community over alleged Illegal acquisition of farm land by Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc.
Some agrarian communities in Uhunmwode, Owan West and Ovia North East Local Government areas of Edo State have called on the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to call the management of the company to order, so as to avoid what they described as “unwarranted confrontation between them and the multinational agro-allied firm”

This statement was made through a protests, said to have been held simultaneously last weekend in the various communities.
It was gathered that the protest also took place in Orhua and Umokpe of Irhue Clan in Uhunmwode and the Ozalla Clan of Owan West, respectively under the auspices of the Traditional heads and Elders-In-Councils of the communities.

The apparently aggrieved men and women who spoke during the protests, condemned in strong terms the alleged illegal activities of Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, through seizure, bulldozing and planting of oil palm trees on their ancestral land, urging the state government to prevail on the firm to leave it alone, “so that theirs’ would not be reduced to another Niger Delta community push into full-blown crisis”.

They alleged that the multinational company, since about three years ago, has been bulldozing and planting on the over 15,000 hectares within the rich Owan and Ehor rainforest reserves, which it illegally bought from A & Hatman Ltd, a middleman, who purchased it from the Iyayi Group of Companies, with billions of Naira exchanging hands, whereas the land was acquired for pittances by Iyayi, for farming and mainly for regeneration.

Okomu Plc was alleged to have destroyed farm crops belonging to the local farmers and priceless wildlife species and natural forms; without duly complying with directives from the Federal Ministry of Environment, that Okomu Plc must go through the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study and acquire the needed permit before accessing the land.

The communities also buttressed an allegation that the Edo State Government had revoked the land with the state’s Official Gazette No. 16 of 5th November. 2015, thus stating the reasons, following deliberations in the meeting of the Edo State Executive Council, with a letter of reminder by the State Government written to Okomu Plc on 18th April, 2016 warning the firm to vacate the land and that its continuous occupation “is an affront”
Whilst delivering a prepared speech on behalf of Mr. Reuben Aizenabor, Secretary to the Palace of the Onotare of Ozalla Clan, Hon. Godwin Aminu Ajayi, asserted that Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc is not welcomed in the forest land and called on Governor Obaseki “to finish the good work of ex-Governor Oshiomhole, his predecessor, by kicking Okomu Plc out of the forest land and bring them to book”.

Pa Samuel Aiwekhoe Ozigbo, the Odionwere of Orhua and Mr. Influence Osaghaede who spoke on behalf of the Orhua and Umokpe villages, respectively maintained that the land has been the exclusive heritage of the communities for centuries, while appealing to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II to step into the matter.

Speakers during the protests were readily agreed to the demands by the Ozalla clan that Okomu Plc be made to vacate the land, forthwith; pay adequate compensation for the crops and biodiversity they have destroyed, while deterrence be served for their disrespect for the Nigerian law.

Apart from the already-mentioned communities, Sobe from Owan West and Agbanikaka, Owan, Odiguete and Uhiere and others are said to be from Ovia North East local government area comprising over 60,000 inhabitants and over 10,000 external users of the lowland rainforest, for farming, timber, source of water, traditional worship centres and for collection of other forest products.
For decades, the Owan forest reserve and its fringes of Ehor forest is of high biodiversity, which conservation experts and global institutions had earmarked for full protection as the extension of the Okomu National Park.

Responding to the allegations, the public affairs manager of Okomu Oil Mr. Fidelis Oliseh denied all the allegations, saying that the Certificate of occupancy (Cof O) issued to the company by the Edo State Government was never revoked as alleged by the communities.
Oliseh said the immediate past governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole accepted invitation to commission the newly acquired areas but could not carry out the commissioning due to his tight schedule in the last few days in office, adding that the company was already making plans for the new governor to perform the commissioning.