…Accuses oil palm giant of illegal land acquisition
…But section of host communities backs company
BY OKHIDE EM’YA DAVID
Affected Communities where Okomu Palm Oil PLC was alleged to have illegally grabbed farm lands in Edo South Senatorial District have cried out to the Federal Government for rescue from the palm oil giant.
The communities said they have been rendered homeless and suffering all kinds of intimidation especially by Security Agents engaged by the firm.
The victims made this known in an International Alliance Meeting Against Industrial Oil Palm Plantations in West and Central Africa through Zoom in Benin City during the week.
Investigations have revealed that the relics of the forceful eviction of residents of the host Communities, which littered everywhere painting a picture of a war situation.
The People said: “we were going about our normal rural life .and suddenly Bulldozers arrived from nowhere and we were asked to relocate. Many of us in the Confusion sustained severe injuries.”
Some leaders of the affected Communities including Mrs. Juliet Ikuku and Hellen Joseph said the activities of the company over the years have been characterized by violations of citizens’ rights.
They accused the alleged “Arsonists of burning Personal Documents including academic materials, certificates, adding that some of them were reading to become Career Persons later in life, and are now stranded as they cannot retrieve their academic certificates from the destroyed Areas.
On their parts some of the displaced female farmers and artisans including Hajia Hajarat Abdullahi expressed disappointment over the use of brute force, alleged military might to dislodge, dislocate, disperse villages and settlements without rehabilitation or adequate Compensation
One of the occupants of traditional stools in the affected Communities, the Fiyewei of Okomu Kingdom, Chief Ajele Sunday frowned at the open assault and called for Justice against Okomu Oil Palm PLC.
He drew attention to a revocation of all illegally acquired land by Okomu Palm Oil PLC by the immediate past Administration in Edo State under Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomole, which was gazetted, saying despite all appeals the present government under Mr. Godwin Obaseki has bluntly refused to enforce it.
He said they have held several peaceful protests to draw attention of the government and other key stakeholders to harmful activities of Okomu Palm Oil PLC to the Residents of their Host Communities which are in flagrant violations of human rights according to the Geneva Conventions on Protection of Citizens Rights .
His words:” in some Communities people are being asked to produce identity cards to access their homes because the Roads to their Villages are blocked by the Company’s Huge gates , a reminder of the apartheid Era in South Africa.”
” The Security agents hired by Okomu PLC descend with the horse whips on Residents at the slightest provocation , punishment not even sometimes meant for Prisoners
“We are sick and tired of their oppression in our own land ,we do not know where Okomu derives its own powers but we know it is totally wrong, unacceptable and annihilating “.
When this medium sought the reaction of the Spokesman for Okomu Oil Palm PLC Mr. Fidelis Olise to the allegations, he referred us to a communiqué issued by Some leaders of the host Communities after a meeting where they dissociated themselves from Chief Ajele Sunday and a Petition he purportedly sent to the Federal Government.
The Host Communities include Odighi, Odiguetue, Uhiere, Oke-Ihrue ,Ekpan ,Umokpe, and Agbanikaka. Others include Gbelebu, Makilolo, Modagayo ,Owan and Orhua.
The Communiqué , read by a leader and Spokesman for the Host Communities, Chief Isaac Osasuyi says contrary to claims by the Fiyewei of Okomu Kingdom, Chief Ajele Sunday, Okomu Oil Palm PLC is not intimidating, villainous while sustaining its social corporate responsibilities to the Communities.
The Communiqué observed that Okomu Oil Palm Plc. in its 40 years of operation in their Communities has never encroached on any land it did not judiciously acquire .
The Communiqué asked “Chief Ajele Sunday to desist from using the Communities’ name to engage in nefarious activities adding that the Communities strongly condemn his activities and urge him to stop unending Petitions and illegal mobilization against Okomu”.
Others who spoke at the meeting said they have enjoyed tremendous development and peace courtesy of Okomu Oil Palm PLC and called on the Management of the Company not to be “detracted by antics of a few others.”
They said they have seen Okomu equipping their health Centre, building of town hall, market, market stalls, while sinking of Bore Hole is on-going in their community adding that “the Okomu PLC has done well for them as the whole community sings praises about the Oil Palm Firm.”
They mentioned yearly ‘ Bursary Awards and Youth Corpers Lodge as new projects executed by the Palm Oil Firm.
On his part, Barrister Alfred Osifo called on the Federal Government to disregard the petition by Chief Ajele Sunday that ” Okomu has failed in its corporate social Responsibilities to its Host Communities and that there are agreements between them and Okomu which guide their relationship.
In his reaction to the Communiqué backing the company, Chief Ajele Sunday said it is quite sad that the Elders who originated the “Document” have been allegedly compromised by the Palm Oil Firm to create a divide and rule situation
.Chief Ajala Sunday asked how one bore sunk by Okomu could service 23 Communities.
The traditional ruler earnestly begged the Federal Government to rescue them from Okomu Palm Oil PLC since the Government of Edo State has become adamant in the enforcement of the revocation of all illegally acquired lands by the company as well as send a high powered Committee to investigate the alleged atrocities melted on the host communities by Okomu PLC.
He said such investigative Panel should also verify number of developmental projects executed by Okomu PLC vis a vis the level of destruction of the habitat and dislodgement of the People.
He said until the People are well catered for they will continue to express their displeasure.
