Landlords of Phase 3 area in Akwose Community, Asaba, Oshimili South Local Government Area, Delta State have sent a Save Our Soul (SOS) message to Governor Oborevwori, to come to their aid following a demolition notice issued by the Delta State Urban And Regional Planning Board.
Barr. Peter Nwaeze while fielding questions from newsmen on behalf of the Phase 3 landlords, appealed to Governor Oborevwori to intervene while they ascertain the true position of ownership claim by government through the Delta State Urban And Regional Planning Board.
Barr. Nwaeze asserted that, landlords in the area received a 14-day (two weeks) demolition notice on March 26, 2025 from the Delta State Urban And Regional Planning Board claiming that, they have erected illegal structures on government land of Delta Trust House Estate, Asaba.
According to him, the Board has asked them to pull down all illegal development and reinstate the land to the condition which it was prior to the commencement of the development.
Barr. Nwaeze said the landlords are appealing to the governor to intervene and stop the demolition notice asserting that they bought the land genuinely from the indigens of Akwose Community who are the original owners of the land.
According to him; Please, we the landlords of Phase 3 area in Akwose Community are appealing to our amiable Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori to come to our rescue, we know he is a governor who seeks the truth and address issue positively".
"We the landlords in this area, bought lands genuinely from the community and we have genuine deeds of conveyance, some of us even have our certificate of occupancy (C of O). And as at the time of acquiring the lands, there was no dispute, the Akwose Community to the best of our knowledge didn't cede this area to government for any purpose or purposes.
"And upon receiving this demolition notice, we have contacted the community leadership, and they said they did not give any part of their land to government at anytime, that the land belongs to them, though they said they are on the matter, but we are not comfortable, because our lives are at stake here, and our properties are about to be destroyed.
"Many of us have stayed in this area for a very long time, some of the landlords and land owners are pensioners, who have use their hard earned money to build their houses here, for most of them, this is their life investment and home. We have no where else to go to. If government come destroy our homes, it's only God who knows what will become of us. We begging our Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to listen to our cry and come to our aid.
"We have even gone to the office of Delta State Urban And Regional Planning Board to enquire of the government gazette to ascertain if the lands truly belong to the state government, but we were not given any audience. So, we are using this medium to appeal to our governor to come to our aid and save us, because hundreds of home are about to be destroyed, and the economic situation of the country is very hard on everyone".
Barr. Nwaeze explains that the land said to have been acquired by the various landlords are individual lands bought form indigens of Akwose Community and the area is a densely populated area with houses.
A leader of from Akwose Community on the condition of anonymity who spoke to newsmen said, there was no time in the history of the Akwose Community that the area of lands was acquired by the Delta state government or its agents and there is no document to attest to the fact that the Phase 3 area was acquired by any government or its agents.
The landlords called on Governor Oborevwori to see their cry as another opportunity to further cement his amiable reputation as a forthright governor, to right wrongs, create goodwill among the governed in his unwavering drive of the MORE Agenda to build the Delta State of their dream.
A source from the Delta State Urban And Regional Planning Board, when contacted through phone call, noted that the demolition notice was genuine and there have been several notices from the Urban And Regional Planning Board to residents in that area before the final demolition notice.
The source noted that, the landlords still have the opportunity of coming forth to Urban And Regional Planning Board with genuine documents of claim of ownership of the lands.
According to the source, "they should come with genuine proof, they should come with the relevant documents showing that they are the owners of the land. This government does not oppress anybody, and this Board will not oppress or falsely claim any land or lands. So, they should come with all relevant documents showing that they are the true owners of the lands."
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