Enogie Debunks Allegations of Preventing Development in Oye-Iyanomo Community
By Simeon OSAJIE
The Enogie of Oye-Iyanomo in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, Alfred Erhauyi Osagie has debunked allegations by Pa Sunday Ohiengbonmwan and Iyayi Eboigbe that he is stopping development in the community.
The Enogie was reacting to an online publication not the Nigeria Observer to the effect that he is obstructing development in the community
The Enogie pointed out that every right thinking person strives for the development in his/her community especially when he is the one vested with the authority and responsibility to administer the affairs of Oye-Iyanomo under the Benin native law and customs.
The Enogie noted that those making the allegations are doing so with the intent to deceive unsuspecting developers into buying landed properties under litigation with the Nigerian Army where-in all parties to the suit had been restrained from carrying out further activities in the said land until the matter is fully settled.
“I am not stopping development but only obeying the court procedures because there is litigation to that effect with Suit No /59/2011 at the High Court of Justice Okada.”
The Enogie further clarified that there is no division within the ranks of Oye-Iyanomo community right from time immemorial and it will remain so for a long time to come following the amicable revolution of all disputes that arose in the past by the great Oba of Benin when the issue was brought before him at the Palace.
The Enogie debunked claims by one Iyayi Eboigbe of being the Okaighele of the community and those by Sunday Ohiengbonmwan Eboigbe of being the acting Odionwere of the community, describing same as incorrect and false.
The Enogie subsequently revealed that a recent Consent Judgement in Suit No B/357/2015 where the said Sunday Ohiengbonmwan , Iyayi Eboigbe and others were the claimants and both parties consented to the judgment by Hon Justice V.O. Eboreime wherein it was declared and agreed that both parties in the aftermath of the settlement all parcels of land allocated to persons prior to the settlement undergo verification for approvals upon the recommendation of a committee to be set up for that purpose with members drawn from both parties in the suit.
According to the Enogie, it was also agreed that no boundary exists between Oye and Iyanomo Community as the community remains one and indivisible, known as Oye- Iyanomo Community.
He also pointed out that both parties agreed to stop further development and allocation of the parcels of land in the community, pending recommendations of the committee to be set up and there are other agreements as well but that he was taken aback to read online that he is preventing development in Oye- Iyanomo.
He then urged the members of the public to disregard the allegations, as those spreading the falsehood so as to cover all the atrocities they have committed in the community by allocating parcels of land with Court injunction to unsuspecting developers.
