2 months ago
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A Niger Delta environmental rights activist and development advocate, Comrade Mulade Sheriff, has warned the people of Benikrukru community in Gbaramatu kingdom, Warri South-West Local of Delta State against indiscriminate selling of the community landed properties to land speculators.
He specifically cautioned the leadership of the community, led by Comrade Joel Tonjoh, to “be careful and not to trade with the future of our yet unborn generations.”
This was contained in a personally signed statement, copies of which he made available to journalists in Warri on Monday.
Yrging the community leadership to “avoid laying a wrong precedent in the community and Gbaramatu kingdom at large”, Mulade, who is the Ibe-Serimowei of ancient Gbaramatu kingdom, disclosed that “the advice became imperative against the backdrop of an ongoing attempt by the Comrade Joel Tonjoh-led leadership of the Benikrukru community to sell off certain portions of land measuring over four hundred acres, most clandestinely and suspiciously, devoid of any historical or cultural antecedents.”
Mulade therefore urged the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom, His Majesty, Oboro Gbaraun II and elders of the Benikrukru community to “call the Comrade Tonjoh and his executives to order, halt and desist from attempting to sell any parcel or part of Benikrukru land under any disguise.”
He further charged Benikrukru community leadership to “rather encourage and support any of her sons or daughters who can attract investors and development to the area.”
Mulade strongly appealed to the community to support and contribute to investment drive as community equity contributions to indigenes, rather than selling any part or parcel of the community land.
The statement partly reads, “I strongly advise that we should support any of our indigenes who can attract and woo investors to Gbaramatu Kingdom, especially Benikrukru community.
“I want to emphasize that, the community ought to, and should demonstrate gratitude to one of our own (name withheld), who has contributed immensely to the growth and development of the community and bringing the community to limelight, and should be given land to invest freely, as an equity stake contributions, in support of his investments drive, and not the other way round by selling.
“This would be a very laudable encouragement to this illustrious son of ours and many others.
“I strongly think that no amount of poverty, ignorance and ‘stomach infrastructures’ should allow us to condescend so low despite his huge contributions to the community development and we should avoid doing things that are inimical to natural justice and fair play.
“It is imperative to state clearly that Benikrukru community land in Gbaramatu kingdom belongs to all sons and daughters with inalienable rights. Therefore, no individual should be subjected to or denied of such rights, and such that is capable of generating crisis and litigation in the near future.
“Let it equally be on record that any purported sale Deeds of Conveyance will be resisted with every available legal means.”
