Indigenes of Ovwian Community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State on Saturday staged a peaceful protest to draw the attention of the State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori and other relevant authorities to the alleged sales of a session of the Udu Harbour Market still under construction by the state government by some individuals from the community.
The President of Ovwian Community, Comrade Dele Joseph Okuku who led the peaceful protest warned prospective buyers of the land to stay clear as members of the community are fully prepared to secure and protect the original masterplan of the Udu Harbour market.
The protesters particularly the Eqweya (women) and youths in their hundreds sang and matched through various quarters of the community, the popular Udu road before converging at the Udu Harbour market.
Addressing the protesters and the traders at the makeshift session at the Udu Harbour market, Comrade Okuku said he was surprised to receive calls from traders at the harbour market notifying him of seven days quit notice served them that the section which is being used for the production of local gin popularly called Ogogoro has been allegedly sold by some individuals who group themselves as cabals in the community.
He wondered why the said individuals would chest out and go behind the community to sell the section of the Harbour market, describing those behind the sale as enemies of Ovwian community, Udu kingdom and the state at large.
The President General of Ovwian Community while advising the traders to ignore the seven days quit notices served to them, disclosed that the original master plan of the Udu Harbour market when completed will boost commerce in Udu.
Comrade Okuku, while displaying the deed of conveyance signed between the Ovwian people and the then Bendel state Government, appealed to the state Government to wade into the issues to bring those selling the section of the Udu Harbour market to book.
The second vice president of Ovwian Community, Mrs Success Vincent, the Owuvwie general of the community Deacon Joseph Oro, the treasurer comrade Earnest Kiapele and Mrs Unice Eruotor maintained that there was no time the community unanimously agreed that a session of the Udu Harbour market should be sold warning buyers to beware of the cartel whose job is to sell lands illegally.
Mrs Vincent, Deacon Oro, Comrade Kiapele and Mrs Eruotor while hinting that they have drawn the attention of major stakeholders in Udu to the development promised their readiness to vehemently resist any attempt by some persons to scuttle the original plan of the Udu Harbour market which they said when completed will be of a great source of revenue to the community, the kingdom and the state.
The President General of Udu Kingdom, Chief Moses Uparan kicked against the action of those behind the alleged sale of a session of the Udu Harbour market describing the act as dead on arrival
Chief Uparan while commending the Ovwian people for their peaceful disposition during the protest assured that he would liaise with the Udu traditional ruler to ensure that no portion of the market is sold out.
The Delta State Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Olorogun Vincent Oyibode, who was at the market assured the protesting Ovwian community and the traders to remain calm while the state government looked into the issue.
