NIGERIA — In an unprecedented and emotionally charged Town Hall Meeting, the people of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom have issued a resounding and unequivocal rejection of what they describe as an “attempted land takeover” by the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, HRM Ifechukwude Okonjo. The communique released at the conclusion of the emergency gathering, held on October 4, 2025, in the historic Main Hall of the Ogwashi-Uku Civic Centre, has sent shockwaves across Delta State — and may very well ignite a constitutional crisis within the kingdom.
The emergency meeting, convened by the Ogwashi-Uku Development Association (ODA) and attended by a cross-section of the kingdom — elders, women, youths, affiliate clubs and branches — was called to address what the association described as “existential threats” facing the people.
Addressing the packed hall with urgency, ODA President General Mr. Patrick Izu Osamor declared that the Obi and his aides had embarked on an aggressive attempt to claim ownership of all lands in Ogwashi-Uku — a move the people have now vowed to resist with every legal and traditional means.
“The Obi is not an emperor. Our ancestors were never conquered. We are custodians of our land, and no one, not even the monarch, can claim otherwise,” Osamor stated to thunderous applause and chants of solidarity.
The communique, released at the end of the deliberations, made it categorically clear that no single person or group can claim total ownership of Ogwashi-Uku land. Rather, lands belong to the individual Quarters and Villages that constitute the kingdom, with boundaries passed down through generations. Where disputes arise, they are to be settled by the Idime — traditional adjudicators of the Okwa (Traditional Division) — and only thereafter may the Obi or his Council intervene.
Crucially, the communique pointed out that the Obi only holds land personally if acquired through legal inheritance, purchase, or donation. While he is the custodian of the Ani — the sacred shrine of the kingdom’s origin — this does not translate to dominion over the entire territory. The use of the phrase “Eze nwe ani,” traditionally used to confer reverence, is not to be confused with authority akin to conquest. The communique stressed that Prince Adaigbo, the progenitor of the royal line, was not a conqueror but a wise leader chosen by the people.
Traditionally, when institutions or government agencies intend to initiate development projects in the kingdom, they approach the Obi, who in turn consults the Chief of the Quarter, who then relays the matter to the Diokpa (the spiritual and natural head).
Decisions are then made communally on how land should be made available — through the Obi — to developers, but only in the case of government projects, not commercial ventures.
In this traditional framework, the Obi is considered a custodian — a caretaker acting on behalf of the true landlords: the people. The communique states clearly that any caretaker or trustee attempting to convert ownership to themselves is in breach of that trust and will face resistance.
One of the most contentious issues addressed was the so-called “Recovery Exercise” initiated by the Obi. While the ODA acknowledges the legitimacy of recovering illegally acquired lands when the rightful owners request intervention, they made it clear that any recovered land must be returned to the original communities — not claimed by the monarchy.
The meeting also took aim at a judgment delivered by the Owa Oyibo High Court, in which Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo and Ifeakanachukwu Emordi, in their personal capacities, secured a ruling against “Persons Unknown” — a decision now being cited to forcibly claim vast areas of land. The ODA announced it would be engaging a competent legal team to challenge and nullify the ruling, describing it as a legal weapon being used to dispossess citizens of their ancestral lands.
Further resolutions included the organization of a peaceful protest across the kingdom involving men, women and youths. The protest will take petitions to the Government House, Delta State House of Assembly, and the Aniocha South Local Government Council. Should there be no positive response within 21 days, the quarters and villages have been granted leave to declare themselves autonomous communities.
In a move that indicates a growing distrust of both traditional and governmental institutions, the ODA also resolved to set up a Projects Monitoring Committee and a Multiple Taxes Control Committee, tasked with overseeing the proper execution of government projects and preventing abuse of taxation on the people. Contractors are now expected to notify the ODA and present Bills of Quantity before commencing any work.
The communique did not mince words in its condemnation of what it called the Palace’s “intimidation, if not enslavement” of the people through the use of security and judicial powers. A recent notice issued under the seal of the Obi, demanding that citizens seek Palace permission before farming on their ancestral land, was met with outrage and calls for mass resistance.
“The people of Ogwashi-Uku were never conquered. They are not subjects to be ruled over like tenants, but stakeholders in the land of their fathers. Any attempt to reduce them to tenants will be met with collective resistance,” the communique concluded.
The communique was signed by: Osamor Patrick Izu, President General, Ogwashi-Uku Development Association; Adigwe Eluemuno Sunday, Secretary General and Nkenchor Timothy, Communique Chairman
Discussion about this post