About 200 retirees, civil servants and media workers of the Media Workers Multipurpose Cooperative Society (MPCS) in Delta State have intensified calls for government intervention in a dispute over a 28-acre parcel of land at Issele-Azagba, after the Obi Cubana Millennium Group failed to appear at a mediation hearing convened by the Delta State Ministry of Justice.
The meeting, convened on Wednesday by the Ministry’s Department of People’s Rights, ended without the Obi Cubana Group or any of its representatives in attendance.
It followed a petition by the landowners over alleged encroachment on the disputed property, which was referred by the Governor’s Office to the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General for intervention.
The department invited the MPCS, the community that owns the land, the cooperative’s surveyor Titus Ayuba, the Cubana group’s surveyor Charles Ogadi, and the Obi Cubana Millennium Group itself.
According to the MPCS President, Comrade Vincent Maduka, “the complainants and the host community were fully represented, and the title documents were on the table.
“The other side did not appear; it was said Surveyor Ogadi was ill and out of the country.
“Rather than adjourning, a ministry official told the group its hands were tied and advised members to seek legal help.
“You called us to a meeting, and now you are advising us to go and get a lawyer.,”
The cooperative argues that the ministry, as the neutral party, should have adjourned and reconvened the hearing at least two or three times before compiling its report to the state government, a process, it insists, should involve the parties presenting their documents and positions.
Maduka said the cooperative bought the land, measuring about 28 acres at Issele-Azagba, over a decade ago, properly documented and lodged at the Ministry of Lands and Survey.
“We have a survey plan. We have an agreement between us, the community, the seller and the surveyor.
“We are crying out for help.
“It is not just four or five people, it is a group of retirees and many others involved in this,” he added
He said members bought the plots for varied reasons, to build homes, to resell when necessary, or to hand down to their children.
“Some are complaining that they have lost hope; this land is what they planned to use during their retirement.
“Some are looking for a way to build their own houses there, because the area is developing.”
He, however, noted that the ministry has promised to reschedule but has not given a date.
The cooperative says it is under mounting pressure from members and has appealed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to intervene urgently to stop the alleged takeover and broker a compromise.
On its terms, the group said, “We want the land left for the retirees and members of the media workers’ cooperative.
“They are the true owners, if you want us to sell, we will negotiate, but for now, we don’t want to sell.”
BY RITA OYIBOKA
