Indigenes of Bomadi, Delta State, on Tuesday, protested against the proposed public hearing slated for Wednesday 25th October, 2023 on the inclusion of Ayamasa II community in the local government area.
The protesters, who carried placards with inscriptions such as “Bomadi federated community says No to the proposed public hearing of Ayamasa II creation by the Bomadi local government council” and “the proposed inclusion of Ayamasa II to Bomadi LGA will create more communal conflicts”, said the decision was not in the collective interest of the community and was taken without proper consultations.
The Chairman of Bomadi Federated Community, Barr. Possibility Teibogiren, who presented the community’s position during the protest, said there were ongoing litigations between Bomadi and Ayamasa community in Bayelsa State, which are pending at the Bomadi High Court.
He also said that the community wanted to know the actual location of the said Ayamasa II community, as it did not see any existing community in the said location.
“Our neighbouring Ayamasa community have been disturbing us with land issues and without proper settling of such issues, there will be crisis if the said Ayamasa II is created without our knowledge and support,” Teibogiren said.
“So, we’re using this medium to call on the council chairman and the leader of the legislative arm to put on hold the proposed hearing slated for tomorrow.”
The President of Supreme Olou Congress, the law-making arm of the community government, Barr Dennis Alade, also said that the so-called Ayamasa II was a forest without inhabitants.
He added that there were court cases between families of Bomadi and Ayamasa communities, and that the community had land disputes bordering on the same land pending at the high court.
“We’re not against creation of any community and we equally know that the council chairman is a peace-loving man,” Alade said.
“Our concerns are that Bomadi and Ayamasa have land cases pending in court and if those cases are not properly handled, there could be crisis resulting from same issues.
“So, what we are saying in essence is that, allow the court to decide on these pending cases and the proposed public hearing be put on hold for now.”
The Vice Chairperson of Bomadi Local Government Council, Hon. Flora Bripu, thanked the protesters for their peaceful disposition and promised to relay their message to the chairman as soon as possible.
