BOUNDARY DISPUTE: Claims by Mallam Amadiya are False and Misleading _Daudu

BOUNDARY DISPUTE: Claims by Mallam Amadiya are False and Misleading _Daudu

-Enemies of Edo state Government proliferating fake news _Hon. Jelil

By: Jeremiah Enaholo Kadiri

jeremiahKadiri@gmail.com

Following the report by Alh. A.O. Muhammed that Edo state government has through the office of the deputy governor Philip Shaibu who doubles as the Chairman of Land and Boundaries Commission of Edo state, made River Orle the boundary between Auchi, Warrake and Iyaro communities, various groups have come to debunk the claim.

The report which featured on AUCHI BLOGSPOT Thursday’s post has sparked diverse reactions following the claims of the lead farmer of Ozemoya Co-Operative Society of Auchi, Alh. A.O. Muhammed popularly known as Mallam Amadiya, that the incessant protests of Auchi people over the use of Osa farmland for a federal and state government sponsored agricultural project has culminated into a meeting at the government house in Benin where, according to him, the SSG announced the shocking news of ceding the entire Osa farm axis to Owan East and making the popular Orle River the boundary between Auchi and her neighbors _Warrake and Ibviaro(Iyaro).

In a swift response, Hon Abduljelil Umar, Executive Vice Chairman of Etsako West Local Government Council stated that the statement is not only a rumor but more so, one borne out of the intent to create discord by enemies of the Edo state government.

“My Good People Of Auchi sacred Kingdom And Etsako West, Please Disregard Every Rumour Going Round In Town That The Government Of Edo State Has Given Some Portion Of Our Fathers Land To Warrake And Ibviaro Villages Of Owan East LGA. The Edo State Government Has Not Done That And They Won't Do It, These Are Some Of The Hand Work Of The Enemy Of The State Who Bent on Turning Auchi Sacred kingdom Against The Government Of Obaseki and Shaibu.
Edo State Government Will Not Do Anything To Undermine The Peace And Unity In Auchi And Edo State At Large.” he said.

He assured all on the need to not take the report serious and to go about their lawful duties.

On his path, the leader of the delegate that was sent to Edo state government house in Benin, Alh. Sule Yusuf who doubles as the Daudu of Aibotse stated that Mallam Amadiya is not the spokesperson of Auchi Sacred Kingdom and so must not be relied on for any info for and on behalf of Auchi regarding the issue on ground.

“I state on good authority as the leader of the team to Govt House for the meeting that the public claims by Mallam Amadiya in the main are false and misleading. He is not the spokesman for Auchi Sacred Kingdom and he has no mandate from anyone to make such weighty and dangerous public pronouncements. Only HRH can do so if he chooses to. Mallam Amadiya's dangerous public vituperation should be ignored in its entirety. He is behaving like someone on a voyage of ego trip and personal aggrandizement. Auchi is a peaceful community and we will want it to remain as such. Reckless and irresponsible public statements should not be allowed to change that position.” he said.

It has also been reported from reliable quarters that Mallam Amadiya has in his report misrepresented facts in his summation. Points to note are

1.      His claim that the meeting was chaired by the SSG is incorrect: The meeting was actually chaired by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy Governor.

2.      The claim that the meeting at the Deputy Governor’s office was only done as an arena for announcement is out rightly false: the reason for the meeting was as a result of the tension that had built up in the ongoing bulldozing of people’s farmlands under the handling of Mallam Amadiya which has led to protests. Being that the project is a government funded initiative, same thought it wise to invite stakeholders for a way out of the crisis.

3.      The dates quoted by Mallam Amadiya in the course of AUCHI BLOGSPOT Thursday post are false.

4.      That the reason for the call was not about creation of boundaries as claimed by Mallam Amadiya: the meeting was called to inform stakeholders about the need to stop the ongoing Federal/State government funded Agricultural project being run by Mallam Amadiya in Auchi with a view to investigate the reasons for the protests by farmers and forestale any resultant crisis.

AUCHI BLOGSPOT has also gathered that though the project was meant to capture farmers in communities of Edo North like it is currently being run in Edo South and Central, the list provided by Mallam Amadiya did not take into consideration people from the neighboring communities around Auchi. His list captures only members of OZEMOYA CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY AUCHI. Aside this revelation, those whose lands had been bulldozed had no knowledge about the Agricultural scheme hitherto when their farmlands and crops they have cultivated were destroyed by bulldozers thus the resultant protests that ensued.

It is hoped that having raised the issue of land boundary between Etsako West and Owan East and the tension that has been generated altogether from Mallam Amadiya’s report, the Edo state government shall in due course bring about a clear demarcation for peace to ensue. The technical committee in charge is currently at Uzanu for a similar case and will be attending to the ensuing issue as soon as they are through with the Uzanu assignment.