The Obi of Ubulu-Uku, His Royal Majesty, Agbodi Chukwuka Noah Akaeze, has called for the enactment of strict regulations to curb the indiscriminate expropriation and sale of lands in the community.
Obi Akaeze made the call in New York, the United States, while delivering a keynote address at the 4th annual convention of Ubulu-Uku Decendants Union in America (UDUNUSA).
The monarch frowned at the indiscriminate expropriation of land in Ubulu-Uku, a community in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State.
He said strict guidelines should be evolved to guard against unregulated sale of lands in the community for individual gains. Rather, land sales should be supervised to ensure that such transactions are in tandem with the interests of the community.
“Another issue that requires our collective attention is the indiscriminate expropriation and sale of lands in our community. They are not just individual property, they represent our identity, culture and legacy. They represent the past, present and future of our people. It is therefore crucial to take decisive action to protect our lands from those that want to transact with it for their personal gains.
“To secure our lands for current and future development, we must enact strict land transaction regulations. We need to create a transparent and accountable measures to ensure community lands are used for the benefit of the people”, the monarch stated.
The measures include “establishing in our community a Task Force to help the Obi-in-Council regulate land use, prevent unauthorised sales and ensure that new developments are consistent with our shared quest for growth and sustainability”, Obi Akaeze said.
On security in the community that has been contending with incursions on farmlands and attacks on farmers by Fulani herders, Obi Akaeze decried the continuous destruction of farm and killing of farmers. Appealing to government to come to the aid of the community, he, however, admonished his people to strengthen the operations of its vigilant group.
“Security is one challenge facing our kingdom as seen by the unfortunate circumstance surrounding the untimely death of my lovely father. Ensuring our community’s safety is a shared responsibility so that everyone feels safe and secure for ourselves, our children and the future generations. We have to increase local security measures in collaboration with law enforcement agencies”, he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, national president of UDUNUSA, Mr. Dandyson Chinweokwu, said the convention with thee theme: “To renovate and equip Anglican Hospital Ubulu-Uku” is another venture to improve the state of essential infrastructure in the community.
“Our goal this time is to help equip the hospital with operating table, ultrasound machines, pulse machines, to mention but a few, for as the saying goes health is wealth”, Chinweokwu said.
Obi Akaeze’s predecessor and father, Obi Akaeze Edward Ofulue III, was abducted on the highway in 2016 by criminal herders in the area who later killed him. Although the alleged killers were later apprehended after they owned up to the murder the then Delta State Commissioner of Police, Alkali Baba-Usman, when paraded before the press, their trial has been stalled at the State High Court, Ibusa under Mr. Justice Omozie.