BENIN CITY - Long neglect of Obagie Nuhuanmwen in Orhionmwon Local Government Area by successive governments in Edo State has been identified as the reason for the easy take over of the community by the neighbouring Delta State indigenes.
Testifying before the Edo State House of Assembly standing committee on oil and Gas on Tuesday the Chairman, Obagie Nuhuanmwen community Mr. Femi Aiwansedo saiod Deltans had taken over the community because of lack of presence of the Edo State Government in the area.
Emphasizing the need to protect the community against external aggression, the community leader disclosed that the community had resolved to give each of the indigenes in the community who are ready to have their own personal building located their at least one thousand blocks leach to start their foundations.
On his part, the Chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Hon. Patrick Aisien said because some of the boundary communities in Edo State are lacking, they tried to patronize neighbouring communities from other states for social amenities, adding that because of this the council decided to open up Obagie Nuhuanmwen through grading of earth road to the village.
Hon. Aisien however called on relevant authorities to join the council in its collaborative effort to bring the community fully back to Edo State.
Rounding off the session, Hon. Emmanuel Okoduwa who stood in for the House standing committee chairman, hon. Christopher Adesotu enjoined the community leaders to encourage their sons and daughters living in the dispora to come back home and erect a building there.
Hon. Okoduwa further stated that if people could volunteer to develop the place on their own, it would be difficult for neighbouring communities to take over their land.
The committee therefore directed both chairman, Edo State oil and gas development commission, Mr. Lawrence Ogieva and the council chairman, Hon. Patrick Aisien to put heads together on what could be done immediately so that the presence of the Edo State government would be felt.
The meeting was however adjourned to October 9, 2008 to enable centrica oil, the firm that is exploring oil in the area to be in attendance.
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