Community Debunks Enogie’s Paid Announcement Over Demarcation of Land
By Simeon OSAJIE
The people of Iyanomo Community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State have faulted the paid announcement made by the Enogie of Oye-Iyanomo, Alfred Erhauyi Osagie on a local television alleging that the community involvement in an unauthorized demarcation of layout in the community.
Speaking on behalf of the Community in an enlarged meeting at the village elders statuary known as Oguedion in local parlance, the Ozukpogieva of Iyahomo Community, Pa. Sunday Ohiengbonmwan said they opted to make their position known over the paid announcement by the Enogie so as to inform the Oba of Benin Kingdom and the public about the true position of activities in the community.
On the allegation that the people of Iyanomo were involved in the demarcation of land in the community for sale as against the consent judgment, Pa Ohiengbonmwan stated that there is element of truth as alleged by the Enogie.
He noted: “What we did was the grading of the access road from the express to the community and again stopping the people from turning the entrance into as a refuse dump thereby becoming an eye sour. We mobilized the youths to join in the evacuation as the grading was going on.
“The Iyanomo people are peace loving and would not take the laws into their hands, but the personalization of the community land by the Enogie and his family is what we will not subscribe to. The community is made up of two villages; Oye and Iyanomo and he cannot continue to carryout decisions without the input of the other elders from Iyanomo as his position as the Enogie cannot exist without the people as well.”
While pledging their continuous loyalty to the Oba of Benin who is a father to all, Pa Ohiengbonmwan also appealing for palace support to ensure they are not pushed out of the village as threatened by the Enogie.
In a brief remarks, the head of youths in the village, Iyayi Eboigbe urged the members of the public to disregard the allegations that they were involved in the demarcation of the village, noting that they only carried out the grading of the access road into the community which was becoming unmotorable to both the inhabitants and the outsiders.
He noted that when the Oba gave a resolution on the name Oye-Iyanomo, he didn’t say the Enogie should come and take over the village asset for himself and his family which is presently occurring.
“For transparency, he should have contacted the elders and people of Iyanomo before going on air to say they (Iyanomo people) are carrying out land demarcation which did take place and again they have the right to make access road in their own village which the Enogie is fighting them against,” he added.
