…Axxela Will Create Job, Attract Devt In Our Community, Says Umuseti Indigenes
High Chief Emmanuel Akpe of Umuseti Community has debunked the ownership claims by Emu Ebendo community of an area of land bought by Axxela Company.
Chief Akpe made this known while speaking with journalists at Umuseti in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State.
He said the land in question belongs to Umuseti and was not in any contestable.
“It should be noted that Umuseti Community welcomes Axxela company into her land”.
According to him, “the operation of Axxela is gas processing which has every capacity to stop gas flaring and its pollutant effects. The company from our understanding will be of immense benefit not only in employment but also in generating internally generated revenue for the state and federal government”.
Speaking, he said the community like other places in Ndokwa-land operates family ownership of land holders system with exemption to few areas belonging generally to the community.
In a statement issued to Journalists, it was revealed that the area of land sold to Axxela belongs to Umu-Mgbor family in Umuseti from time immemorial and have since then been in their possession without any form of interference from anyone or community.
It also stated that there was due diligence by Axxela company before the purchase because they made inquiries from relevant government agencies in the state as well as from those who live and farm in the area.
He added that even after the purchase, all payments for loss of economic crops were paid only to members of Umu-Mgbor family and no one else. It is therefore shocking to see our brothers from Emu Ebendo coming from a distance of about four kilometer to claim ownership of a land area with houses and other economic activities for over one hundred years.
Speaking to Journalist at the the site, Okwa Akwaligbe Peter said he was surprised by the actions of his brothers from Emu Ebendo who had in the past been caretakers of their land.
According to Akwaligbe Agbika farmland, Ogonofe Oluji and other surrounding lands from immemorial belongs to Umuseti and no one had ever interfered in the use of the lands.
On his part High Chief Toni Ezeukwu said Umuseti had been in possession of the land for centuries.
He noted that many of the properties around the land in question were owned by the people of Umuseti.
Chief Ezeukwu added that they had annually collected royalties from their tenants without challenge.
He revealed that one of the old building close to the land was Umuseti INEC Unit 27 voting centre where they had since 1999 casted their votes.
He said Axxela acquired the land rightly from Umuseti and they were ready to defend the Company to do thier work as they will bring development and employ not only their people but the Emu Ebendo indigenes.
‘We will not condone any attempt by anyone to frustrate thier effort, we urge Axxela to continue thier legal operation as we are behind them”, he said.
He said issue of court judgement with Obodogba had nothing to do with Umuseti and neither were they party to thier matter.
