…FG and EDSG at war
…Benin Industrial Park project runs into a storm
…EDSG mobilises thugs to forcibly acquire land
…Benin Owena River Basin farm being destroyed
The farmland belonging to the Benin Owena River Basin Authority situated at Obayantor, Sapele road axis of Benin City was a few hours ago (11am, April 4, 2018) invaded by thugs allegedly mobilised by the State government through the SSG, Osarodion Ogie, after the Benin Owena River Basin officials insisted that the land is FG land and as such EDSG can not acquire, bulldoze or use it as part of the proposed Benin Industrial Park.
It was with shock and utter disgust that we received the news that EDSG, headed by a supposed technocrat, Gov Godwin Obaseki, with all razzmatazz, fanfare and propaganda, did not do due diligence or obtain consent and/or approval from owners of the land and farms, in the area they proposed to build an Industrial Park for which several foreign trips and millions of dollars have been expended.
A few weeks ago, many home owners were blackmailed into vacating their homes, while thugs disguised as community representatives were sent to intimidate these homeowners that their refusal to cooperate will deny them the collateral advantage of having the park in their community. No compensation was offered, only a threat of government sanctions.
After repeated attempts to forcibly takeover the Benin Owena River Basin Farmland situated in Obayantor, State government officials and thugs, acting as enforcers, apparently under instruction of EDSG, brought in bulldozers to start the destruction and annexation of the land belonging to the federal government.
EDSG is notorious for seizing, acquiring and annexing FG property in Edo State and thereafter selling it to themselves and their cronies. We are reporting this so that all Edo people will know that the maps, pictures and models being displayed by EDSG and Godwin Obaseki were just gimmicks to siphon money out of the state in the last two years. The scam got out of hands when PDP insisted on transparency and accountability for the project. This is why PDP queried the frequency of the governor’s travels as well as his penchant to sign MOUs with every Tom, Dick and Harry.
It is clear now that this government had no plans to build an industrial park because if it did, even after they performed a “ground breaking”ceremony, these fights, blackmail, intimidation and annexation would not have been necessary, as a proper plan would have existed.
We are appalled at EDSG’s display of incompetence and mafiosi style of governance. We condemn it and find it reprehensible.
Signed
Chris Osa Nehikhare
SPS PDP EDO STATE
