Eminent Domain Without Due Process- The Other Side Of The Story To Governor Ifeanyi Okowa

It is with utmost respect that I write the other side of the story of the major victim of Eminent Domain act In Asaba; knowing that governance is not an easy task and sometimes; information can be amiss, thus leading to a below per decisions. I have keenly followed governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration in Delta state and can authoritatively say his administration is the most friendly, legal, civilized and tailored administration. This administration has done outstandingly but in just one circumstance, tends to destroy years of beauties.

I commend his effort in trying to rid the state of criminalities and keeping Delta state; most especially, Asaba clean. Governance is also about listening to people put in a channel- that listen, evaluate and advise. There might really not be a channel for the common man to directly reach the governor and there could also be interest catalyst leading to influenced advice.

With the antecedents of this administration; it would be selfish to conclude this administration deliberately dealt with ‘Eminent Domain’ issues with premeditated illegality. I strongly believe the governor was given wrong information by those that want to take advantage of a situation and merchants of illegality.

Social media has made it easy for us to directly reach our leaders and by virtue of this write; I wish for the first time to narrate to the governor what happened; what is happening in the state capital.

The very peak of the happening was the forceful takeover of lands belonging to one Chief Damian Nwabuobi Odua without any reason. The draconian act made me question this administration’s commitment to rule of law. A decent government must always follow due process and understand that its primary concern is the people’s welfare.

Let me start by pointing out clearly to the governor that the popular Hausa market started over 17years ago; after a tribal war that happened in Anambra state, Onitsha precisely, Hausa people ran for their lives and crossed the bridge. Chief Damian Odua who was building a Gas plant/Filling station on his legally acquired land with government approval was approached by Asaba leaders and government contacts to allow the escaping Hausa people temporary stay on his property, as a good citizen of the state, he heed to the call and that was how Hausa people used his property in Abraka as a temporary camping site.

It is pertinent to also bring to your notice that the property in question has Certificate of Occupancy(C of O) and the proposed Gas plant/Filling station with due approval of the state government. The intended Gas plant/Filling station met all the necessary requirements, signed, sealed and approved by the Government of Delta state. Today; it is unfortunate that the goodwill of a man has landed him into a life threatening loss.

Gradually; Hausa community began to sell and buy on the very site and from there, they grew a big market popularly known as Hausa market. Immediately the market became visible; the land owner initially opposed market on his site but he was pleaded and prevailed on. In the spirit of oneness; he allowed the market to fully commence against his initial plan of Gas plant/Filling station. Being a law abiding citizen; he quickly approached the government and got all the necessary and legal approvals for a market site. The rest became history. Hausa market has the seal and approval of Delta state government.

To Chief Damian Nwabuobi Odua; public interest goes ahead of personal interest which was the driving factor in making his Gas plant/Filling station a market site. Deltans and Nigerians trooped in and survived in the market; children went to school and families were able to make ends meet, which was one of the quickest ways of eliminating crime in our society. The market paid all the constitutionally stipulated taxes and liaised with the government on how best to make everything work perfectly for citizens of the state until recently.

Accusations and counter accusations; rumors and gossips led to the lowest point of this administration who moved one fateful afternoon and demolished thousands of shops and destroyed goods of her citizens without pity. The funniest of accusations was the claim that a public market harbors criminals. What is done in the market is buying and selling; a criminal around the market is at the risk of traders. It is also noteworthy that the market leadership invests heavily in security to ensure safety of merchants.

Perhaps; around the market can be said to habor criminals who attack merchants; then, what the government should have done was to help the market get rid of its challenges and not rolling caterpillars to demolish sources of living. Simply put; the government has no valid or legal reason for sudden destruction of the market let alone seizing of the site. It is simply a sheer wickedness and political move to snatch a legal property from innocent citizens.

There was no reason whatsoever to demolish and seize the property because it was already a public interest structure that generates revenue and legally followed due process. If the government wants to privatize the property; it must go with monetary bargain; it must be bought from the owner. If the government wants to upgrade the market; it must also go with the owner because it is a legally acquired land that met all legal standard. This government cannot wake up and snatch a private land without negotiations; compensation or buy off. Nobody is in a military rule; this is democracy and Okowa’s administration has failed woefully in this case.

His administration has illegally and forcefully seized the land of law abiding Nigerians; judiciary being the hope of a common man has been approached and the administration is so far running away from the matter. Threatening and urging the common man to give up because his administration will frustrate him in the court until he gets tired. While this may not be the intention of the executive governor of Delta State; his wards have shown the excesses of the governor who believes he is above the law in his state.

While this shame of this administration goes on; it is crucial the governor knows exactly what is happening and what happened in this matter. Whatsoever that transpired during the demolition and before has no basis because; the said property is legally guarded by the laws of Delta state which the governor has broken and trampled upon by demolishing and seizing a property he has no right to. If a market calls for relocation; it must be done amicably and with appreciation for everything done to generate revenue for the state and make ends meet for Deltans.

Okafor. A. Okafor is a human right activist