BY SAM DUVWODE
Delta State Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, has called for renewed commitment by all stakeholders for the advancement of the Delta/Edo boundary delineation exercise. He added that all relevant stakeholders must avoid and desist from acts and actions that will degenerate into unnecessary skirmishes or violent confrontations between the two States.
Barr. Otuaro, who made the call at the Edo State Government House, in Benin, today during the joint meeting of officials on Edo/Delta Interstate Boundary Disputes, advice that, undue relevance on legal notices and the result of plotting on maps will be misleading in the determination of State boundaries.
While noting that, field completion exercise is necessary to determine the level and extent of contribution as a means of achieving how the forest reserve will be shared, he added that, the dire necessity of fieldwork in a just and acceptable determination of the Delta-Edo States boundary delineation exercise cannot be over emphasized.
The state deputy governor who noted that, the last joint meeting under the supervision of the Boundary Commission was held in Asaba on 6 April, 2016, expressed worries that, considerable length of time is being expended in the boundary delineation process involving the two States.
According to him; “This may not be unconnected with the deep intricacies associated with boundary disputes and the need to ensure that a suitable exercise is not sacrificed on the alter of expediency”.
While saying that, from the series of communiques issued after various meetings held with the National Boundary Commission, where both States were always enjoined to maintain the status quo in areas where there are disputes, as a means of achieving peace, pending the completion of the delineation process, the failure of stakeholders to adhere to resolutions taken and accepted by all parties in the exercise was disheartening.
He note that, the recurrent resolution has been breached by Edo State through its purported grant of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to Presco Plc in 2013, over land not occupied by any Edo State community.
This, according to Barr. Otuaro, has generated unhealthy situations by the activities of Presco PLC from 2015, 2016, and 2017, which led to persistent brwakdown of law and order in the Ethiope River axis. He noted that, the C of O was the reason Presco started acting with imprudence, impunity and audacity against Delta communities.
Barr. Otuaro said, Delta State government is not unaware of the advantages these unfriendly behaviour by Presco had given to Edo State, adding that, Presco has successfully altered the land architecture on the other side of Ethiope river, known as Sobo plain.
The company according to him has destroyed the farms and settlements of Delta communities, chased occupants away and had dug trenches to hinder access to their landed properties.
While saying that, Delta State government some few months ago received complaints from Umutu community that Edo State Government has leased out the community’s vast rubber plantation which has been under the control of Umutu community since 1910, to a company called Rubber Plantation Plc, it is pertinent to inform the Commission, so that as the umpire, they can point available remedies to Delta State for keeping the resolution or what penalties be imposed on Edo for the breach.
In the same development, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu. represented by Secretary to the Edo State Government, SSG, Osarodion Ogie Esq. has enjoined Edo State indigenes especially those in the border axis of the state to coexist peacefully with their border neighbours.
Rt. Hon. Shaibu, who noted that the state is making fast track progress in the resolution of the boundary disputes between Edo and Delta States, said the joint meeting of officials of Edo and Delta States has in no small measure, ensured relative peace and helped to douse tension in the border communities of the two States.
While the Director-General, National Boundary Commission, Dr. Muhammad Ahmad in his remark noted that, the boundary disputes between Edo and Delta State started since 1994.
He noted that, a lot of work including torritorial field exercise involving the two States has been done since then.
While saying that, boundary delineation is desired for territorial design for States as well as local government, he said boundaries should not bring barear between communities of the two States.