IJAW oil producing communities in Warri South-West local government area of Delta State are at loggerheads over the ownership of oil wells in Ogbe-Ijoh kingdom
While the Ogbe-Ijoh community said the oil wells belong to the kingdom, the Kantu community faulted the position of the former on the ownership of Odidi I, II and Egwa � II (Tekedor/Kusimi) oil wells and fields, as published by the former in an advertorial, published July 20 in the Vanguard newspapers.
In a statement, they said, �ordinarily, we would not have joined issues with the Kantu community. However, it is incumbent on us to set the records straight, especially in view of the fact that the letter was addressed to the governor of Delta State and published in a national newspaper to the knowledge of the general public
�In the first place, the advertorial was done under the auspices of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom Oil Producing Communities and not Ogbe-Ijoh Community. Kantu Community ought to know that there is a world of difference between a kingdom, comprising of various communities and a single community. Hence, Ogbe -Ijoh kingdom has various oil producing communities of which Ogbe-Ijoh community is just one of them. Secondly, Ogbe-Ijoh kingdom did not in the said advertorial claim to own Egwa-I Flowstation or oil wells. This shows that Kantu community did not read it carefully and is only playing to the gallery.
�In response to the assertion of Kantu community that Ogbe-Ijoh kingdom�s oil producing communities claim of ownership over oil wells at Odidi 1 and 2, Egwa I and Egwa II (Tekedor/Kusimi) is without historical and legal foundation, we wish to state that Ogbe � Ijoh kingdom�s oil producing communities dejure ownership of oil fields or wells at Odidi I and II and Egwa I and Egwa II (Tekedor/ Kusimi) is beyond doubt or dispute.�
According to them, �Ogbe -Ijoh kingdom�s oil producing communities, viz Odidi I and II, Egwa I and Egwa II (Tekedor/Kusimi) and Eweregbene are the only communities that are in physical possession of the land where the aforementioned oil wells are found apart from the dejure ownership through acquisition, thereby, enjoying both dejure and defacto ownership�.
Aug72007