The Community Development Associations CDA in communities and villages in Edo State seems to have staged a deadly comeback against the backdrop of the position of the the Oba of Benin and the Edo State government banning their activities.
The latest, among hundreds of such victims who are helpless and have lost their lands and property to the avarice of the CDA leadership is the Former Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council and publisher of Sparknewsnaija, Otumba Mike Aladenika, who at a press conference in Benin City alleged that the Ohen (Chief priest) of Okhuoromi Community, in Oredo LGA, Chief Ovbokhan Igbinovia trespassed on his land measuring 100 × 100 feet at the community, destroyed the foundation of two blocks of three bedroom flats built up to DPC level and sold the land to someone else”.
Recall that Benin Monarch after his coronatiation in 2016 banned CDAs, the Edo State Government also enacted a law banning their activities,as according to the government, their acivities has become anti progress.
Aladenika who displayed a video of the destroyed property, and his petition to relevant authorities among other documents said, ” I am forced to cry out now because I have realized that there are hundreds of persons out there ,who have suffered the same fate but are helpless”.
“Can you imagine that the same Ohen validly allocated the said land to his cousin, Uyi Enadeghe, who sold the said land to me? The Ohen was the one who Personally facilitated the documentation and signing of the deed of transfer, years back”.
“He, the Ohen, collected his traditional respect and acknowledgement from me, while the Okaighele(youth leader) collected the sum of hundredthousand naira (#100,000 ) from me in lieu of the required traditional cooking and they asked me to commence work on the land.
“All these happened about three years ago. Between then and December 2020, there was no contention on the land until the Ohen, Chief Ovbokhan Igbinovia,
came to encroach, destroyed and resold the land to another person”. He said
The former NUJ Chairman while Fielding questions from Journalists on efforts made to retrieve his property before now said ” I have approach so many well meaning Edo citizens to talk to him to make him see reasons. Among them was a principal officer of the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), top political leaders and some of his friends who were privy to my ownership of the land, called and severally met with him all to no avail”.
“Rather for him to retrace his steps even when some people told him that his action to have demolished foundation is a forbidden act, he said he is the one that can determine whatever happens in his domain, stressing that he is not subject to any other authorities”.
“My fear now is that my life is been threatened because I am asking for what rightly belongs to me but I have my mind made up that I will not give up on this crusade as this will also liberate many who are currently suffering the same fate.”he concluded
Responding, the Ohen of Okhuoromi, Ovbokhan Igbinovia, said anybody who is concerned should go to the site,meet who is working there and confirm who sold the land to him.
“Please, I don’t have anything to say, why not go to the site and see who is working there and confirm who sold him the land. Just go there and confirm.” He said
