The people of Ogwashi Uku in Aniocha South local government of Delta State today in their thousands stormed Government House, Asaba calling on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to call their monarch to order.
The people maintained that as citizens of Nigeria, they could not endured been treated as second class citizens in their land by the monarch ,HRM Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo.
They carried various placards reading :’ Ogwashi Uku lands not Okonjo personal property, No to Tyranny in Ogwashi Uku, Obi is not the owner of Ogwashi Uku lands.’
The people were led by Osamor Patrick Izu, President General and Adigwe Eluemuno Sunday, Secretary General of Ogwashi Uku Development Association.
The Ogwashi Uku people presented their charter of demands to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori who was represented by Senator Emmanuel Aguariawodo, senior political adviser to the governor.
The people listed ten items as their charter of demands.
Among are that : ‘To intervene promptly to stop Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo and his agents from taking over as personal properties our ancestral land
Stop the continued harassment of the people with Obi contact in the securities (police and military) and apparatus of government .
Stop the sale of ‘land recoveries ‘ by the palace unless any quarter/ village and then the quarter must be a party to the case as plaintiff.
Stop the ‘Notice and Warning’ issued by the Palace to Ogwashi Uku citizens which makes it mandatory that any person who wants land to farm on their ancestral farmlands must obtain permission from the palace.’
The copy was presented to the governor’s representative.
In response, the representative of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori restated government resolve towards ensuring justice in the leadership and land related crisis bedeviling Ogwashi Uku kingdom over the years.
Oborevwori gave the assurance while addressing the people of Ogwashi Uku on a peaceful protest over the alleged take over of their ancestral lands by the traditional ruler of kingdom and his agents and proxies.
The governor represented by the senior political adviser, Senator Emmanuel Aguariawodo reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to the enthrone of peace , justice and unity among the people.
The Governor commended the protesters for their peaceful conduct adding that the contentious issues would be addressed speedily to facilitate early return of peace , law and order in the community.
The protesters were also at the Delta State House of Assembly complex, Asaba where a copy of their protest letter was presented to the sergeant – at – arms , Mr Scoth Ehiwogun for onward presentation to the speaker.
They also visited the secretariat of Aniocha south local government where the reasons for their protest were outlined by the president General of O D A Osamor Patrick Izu
Below is the copy of speech presented to the governor.
15th October, 2025
Hon Sheriff Oborevwori
Executive Governor of Delta State
Government House
Asaba
Your Excellency,
PROTEST OVER ATTEMPT TO ENSLAVE THE PEOPLE OF OGWASHI-UKU
We the people of Ogwashi-Uku under the registered and recognized community development association of our kingdom (Ogwashi-Uku Development Association (ODA)) protest to your Excellency and the world at large the deliberate activities of Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo 11, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku to enslave the people of Ogwashi-Uku especially through cunning takeover of our lands.
Our attention has been drawn to a secret court judgement at faraway Owa Oyibo, Ika South Local Government Area in a case between Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo and Prince Ifeakanachukwu Emordi Vs Persons Unknown which grants the Petitioners possession (ownership) of “all lands of Ogwashi-Uku”. This court judgement was followed up by obtaining authority to take possession of the lands and subsequent condoning and bulldozing of lands in some quarters recently.
The judgement has become disturbing since Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo or his agents have commenced taking possession of the lands, sending away our people from their ancestral farm lands and harassing others with petitions and consequent Police arrests. A “Notice and Warning” was issued under the Seal of His Majesty and signed by the Palace Secretary Ifeakanachukwu Emordi which restricts persons entering their farmlands unless with the permission of the Palace.
Before this time the citizens had been terrorised by the Palace and their agents through arrests and court processes on phantom charges to shut everyone up like slaves in our father’s land. The people who opposed untraditional processes of installing Chiefs (including the Obi himself who untraditionally was installed in place of his elder brother who was rightful of the position by Ogwashi-Uku customs and traditions) were wrongly accused of criminal charges and made to go through Security and Judicial costs using the influence of their sister.
Ogwashi-Uku has been treated as a personal property of Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo. Compensations, Proceeds and Donations due to Ogwashi-Uku are not paid into any Community account for Ogwashi-Uku but managed privately without accounting to the people. This is what happens to monies received as out of court negotiations on so called recovered lands without the knowledge and consent of original land owners.
We are frustrated by the continued delay of the Delta State Government in releasing the White Paper on the outcome of the Judicial Panel of Enquiry set up by the Delta State Government on Land and Traditional Leadership challenges in Ogwashi-Uku. This undue delay has emboldened the Obi and his family in suffering the people and claiming their ancestral lands. The people are being suffered because before the Panel they proved that Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo and his younger brother Onyema Okonjo were ex-convicts and not worthy of being King and Prince over them.
We ask your Excellency to intervene promptly to stop Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo and his Agents from taking over our ancestral lands and harassing the people with his contacts in the Judiciary and Securities. The people are being pushed to the walls.
We remain loyal.
Osamor Patrick Izu
President General
ADIGWE Eluemuno Sunday
Secretary General.
