We Want To Bring To Public And Government Attention A Prolong Issue In Gelegele Community And Environs
We Want To Bring To Public And Government Attention A Prolong Issue In Gelegele Community And Environs
On behalf of Otu Notedoghewii meaning Group for the Protection of Benin land, we are pleased to be in the premises of the notable Nigerian Observer, a newspaper that has projected the interest and growth of Edo within and outside the State. In recent· times, the Nigerian Observer has undergone surgery that has now positioned the newspaper to serve the overall growth of the people. Congratulations!
Our visit centres on the communal crisis that has persisted between the Binis and the Ijaws. which has left a sore taste in the mouth.
We want to bring to public and government attention a prolong issue in Gelegele community and environ in. Ovia Northeast Local Government Area of Edo State that have-spanned many decades of administrative and litigation processes between the Binis and the Ijaws.
It is worthy of note that Gelegele and environs, is entirely a rural community, which dwelt in peace and harmony until the late 1960’s. The Binis have occupied the entire area known as Gelegele, Ughoton, Abiala and other relative villages peaceably without any rancour or antagonism from any ethnic group for countless centuries as historical facts reveal.
That Gelegele is a Bini community is a long settled issue. There are established, verifiable administrative inquiries by the then Midwest State Government and judgments from the High Court up to the Supreme Court in Lagos giving authority and power to the Binis over the land occupied by our forbears for centuries.
Our claim to Gelegele and environs is neither fictional nor adventurous. The area was incontrovertibly founded by a Bini Prince Ekaladerhan who escaped a royal death decree over 10 centuries ago particularly Ughoton Princess Kobe from Ughoton founded Gelegele after previous attempts to inhabit the swampy terrain failed the name Gelegele derived from the exclamation:
“Gelegele emwan khian evbo” Our investigation showed that the first Ijaw man from undoubted history to setle in Gelegele was one Feti who suffered a misadventure in the near sea where torrential waves swept away his makeshift .home about 100 years ago. He obtained permission from one Okunseri, the then priest of ·Ughoton, to settle there under traditional oath of allegiance. As time went on the Ijaw population in Gelegele grew but continually paid homage to the Binis nay the Oba of Benin, through Ughoton until late Oba Akenzua II, CMG, stopped them.
However, in 1969 the Ijaw who had prior knowledge of oil discovery in the land, rose against the authority which erupted in a crisis at a time a Bini man, one Ogbeifun Egharevba was Odionwere of Gelegele. An administrative inquiry was setup by the then Midwest State Government of Brigadier-General Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, headed by one Mr. S. Jamgbadi, a Senior District Officer and sat at Ekehuan. A report was issued in 1970, and we quote inter-alia: “It is however established that the Ijaws have been resident in Gelegele for many years and that during these years they have acquired landed property and cultivated farms; but from the facts in evidence they qualify as TENANTS on the land - their-long period of occupation notwithstanding.
The matter went through the High Court of Justice and Federal Court of Appeal in Benin and the Supreme Court -in Lagos. The Binis secured victory all the way. The following suit numbers are material evidences to buttress our claim to the land at Gelegele and environs
1. High Court of Justice, Benin Judgment delivered on the 22nd December 1978 by .Justice. Ekeruche J in Suit No. B/I44/1970.
2. Federal Court of Appeal judgment delivered on the 16th December1981 by Abdul Ganiy Olatunji· Agbaja and 2 others in Suit No. FCA/B/82/80.
3. Supreme Court unanimous Judgment delivered on the 19th ‘August 1983 by Muhamedu Lawai Uwais, former Chief Justice of the Federation and 4 others in Suit No. SC.131/1982.
With all these’ unassailable evidences, the Binis has been magnanimous in victory. We absorbed them and refused to insist on enforcing the Supreme Court ruling to the letter because Binis are receptacles to strangers of all shades. Yet the Ijaws have not only abused undeserved privileges but consistently for 40 years assaulted our integrity, abused our simplicity, challenged our international acclaimed military prowess, brazenly cajoled and’ intimidated our sense of belonging and trampled on our collective will. It is enough!
Otu Notedoghewii have the following remarks to make to all and sundry:
1. Ijaws have severally attacked, invaded and occupied Bini villages without provocation and retaliation for too long.
2. Gelegele is a recurring decimal in Edo politics that it is a sing-song in the mouth of politicians seeking relevance and electoral patronage. Gelegele is to the Binis what Lagos is to the Yorubas; or what Port Harcourt is to the Ikwerres or what Calabar is to the Efiks.
3. It must be made abundantly clear that the Ijaws have always been erratic, provoking showdown but the Binis’ have cleverly evaded direct confrontation not because we are afraid of war but believe much in peace sine qua non for national stability, growth. and progress·
4. Because of the Gelegele escapade the Ijaws have further audacity to extend their ambitious voyage of annexation to many Benin communities because no one has challenged them since modern development has refused to come to their peculiar terrain they have embarked on a voyage to seek land to rediscover themselves.
5. The Ijaws who settled along river banks in Benin land in spite of our openness and acceptance has become a thorn in the flesh of ‘Binis constituting themselves as malfeasance, aggressors, instigators and violators of civilized behaviour.
6. Ijaw militancy has made Gelegele a disarmament centre because the place is being used as militia centre and gateway to the creeks in Delta and Bayelsa States. This has brought discomfort and tension to the Binis living in the area.
7. Binis has been excluded from the scheme of things as the Ijaws has dominated the affairs of not only Gelegele but environ like Abiala and Ughoton. where the crude oil being exploited by Dubri Oil Company Limited is located. They insisted and got only Ijaws employed by Dubri and derived benefits from royalties through .threat of fire and brimstone.
8. We are reawakening the Bini consciousness of responsibility, brotherhood, communal sensitivity and vibrancy through non-violent means. Gelegele is a starting point to other areas Benin land has been encroached on without challenge.
9. We will no longer tolerate for any moment the calculated and surreptitious stripping of Binis of their age-long territory from every side.
10. Otu Notedoghewii is sounding a strong warning to any Bini man that would want to betray the Benin nationalism to desist from it as he would be consumed with it in the new renaissance. Ladies and Gentlemen, the unprovoked attack of the Gelegele militants led by one Don Ben who has been terrorizing the locality on Abiaia when the people were building their community hall shows the Ijaws’ ulterior desire to invade, occupy and gradually eliminate the Binis from their land, Abiala forms the nexus Gelegele and Ughoton community which last month also suffered attack without being reported,
Therefore, we are calling on the respective authorities in Edo State and beyond to call a spade a spade and address the recurring issue of ownership of Gelegele once and for all. Those that are buying lands from strangers and settlers are doing so at their own risk. Henceforth, the Binis will resort to SELF-HELP if the government does not come to our rescue.
