By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
A civil society group has called on the Delta State Government to promptly compensate two property owners for alleged trespass and demolition of their landed properties, urging Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to act in the spirit of peace, equity, and justice.
Speaking at a press briefing in Warri, Comrade Emmanuel Igbinni, National President of Vanguard for Transparent Leadership and Democracy (VATLAD), said it is only fair that Dr Prosper Orezimena and Eselemo Transport Ltd be monetarily compensated for the loss of their properties, which were either demolished or taken over for government-related projects.
According to Igbinni, part of Dr Orezimena’s property located at Airoboyi Close, Effurun, was demolished to pave way for a road project aimed at improving connectivity between Jakpa and Refinery Road. While acknowledging the importance of such infrastructural development, he stressed that the sacrifice made by private individuals should not be ignored.
“I believe as an engineer and a stakeholder in road development, link roads are crucial. But when government infrastructure displaces legitimate property, fairness demands compensation,” he said.
Dr Orezimena, he noted, had plans to establish a specialized hospital on the site to cater for people with disabilities and create job opportunities for young graduates. Igbinni appealed to the state government to consider allocating alternative land for the project to ensure the vision is not lost.
On the issue involving Eselemo Transport Ltd, Igbinni clarified that the controversial parcel of land at the Warri Main Market waterfront, where classrooms were built years ago, was encroached upon by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) under former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, not the current administration.
He said, “Let it be clear that Governor Oborevwori is not a land grabber. That language, which was used by Prince Collins Eselemo out of anger, was unfortunate. The encroachment dates back to the Uduaghan administration.”
Igbinni revealed that in 2009, DESOPADEC under Chief Dr Wellington Okrika admitted to the trespass and compensated Eselemo Transport Ltd with N75 million out of the N200 million demanded. However, the unresolved balance of N125 million has reportedly reignited tension.
He added that the state government, under Governor Oborevwori, had been making efforts to settle the matter amicably until a new group surfaced claiming ownership of the same land, threatening legal action against DESOPADEC and the Eselemo family.
He accused the Commissioner for Rural Works and Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, of fanning the flames by seeming to accept the claims of the rival group during a recent media interview.
“That kind of public posture by a government official can create confusion and unrest. It must be handled with caution,” Igbinni warned.
He urged the Delta State Government to pursue peaceful resolutions to both matters to avoid legal battles and sustain public confidence in its commitment to justice.
“Government must lead by example. When issues like this arise, peaceful dialogue, not confrontation, should be the way forward. That is how we move Delta State to the next level,” he concluded.