Edo State Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, has appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in the land dispute between Edo and Delta states.
The appeal was contained in a statement by the deputy governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Friday Aghedo, and made available to journalists in Benin, the state capital, on Saturday.
Idahosa made the call while leading a delegation of state officials and members of the Edo State Boundary Committee on a fact-finding mission to disputed communities on Friday.
As part of efforts to ensure peace, he urged President Bola Tinubu to use his office to guarantee justice, equity, and fairness in the disputed areas.
He said, “I passionately call on the President to use all necessary demarcation agencies to resolve these lingering issues.”
While seeking peace from the affected communities, Idahosa emphasised that the state government was determined to protect the territorial integrity of Edo State and the rights of the people of Orhionmwon.
He pointed out that the Jameson River serves as a natural demarcation landmark for the disputed Ugbakele boundary community.
Calling on the state boundary committee to be thorough in its investigation, he stressed that the findings would guide the committee’s recommendations to the governor.
He added, “We decided to ask questions about the history of this area. We found out that the Jameson River is the natural boundary between Edo and Delta states. You can see the previous structures of the AT&P company. This land clearly belongs to Edo State.
“We thank the community people and settlers, and we plead that they continue to maintain peace pending the outcome of the National Boundary Commission.”
Earlier, Idahosa and his team engaged with stakeholders and community leaders of Oben, Ikobi, Iguelaba, and Obozogbe-Nugu communities to verify their claims and grievances.
At a town hall meeting, the communities complained of non-recognition by oil companies operating in the area and criticised the ceding of their communal land to private individuals by the immediate past state administration without compensation.
“The previous government has done injustice to the Edo people by allocating land to investors without having interactive sessions with us,” they noted.
Recall that in September, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the lingering boundary dispute to avert possible communal clashes.
Okpebholo, who was represented by Idahosa, warned companies and individuals against exploiting the unsettled boundary issue by encroaching on Edo territory while the case remains before the National Boundary Commission for adjudication.
