BEAT OF CRISIS: LAND GRAB SCANDAL!
Amaechi, Mexican Farmer in Shady Banana Plantation Deal…MOSOP Screams ‘Fraud’
*Claims 2,000 hectares of Ogoniland acquired fraudulently
*Provides Evidence to NSN Editorial Crew in America
* “Documents show a conspiracy between Rivers State, some evil persons to take Ogoniland, give to a Mexican Farmer”–MOSOP
BY KEN THOMPSON/REPORTER, RIVERS STATE
AS the preparations to the 2015 Elections build up in Nigeria gradually, the Movement for The Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) in Rivers State have exposed the alleged ‘land-grab deal’ of Rotimi Amaechi administration in a secret deal with Mexican farmers. In a bid to build ‘Banana Plantation’, the Amaechi government allegedly took-by force a 2,000 farmland that belong to Ogoni community without ‘a financial settlement plan’ to the host community. This community punctured the claim by Rivers State government to have ‘paid for the land’.
In a press statement sent to NSN, SIGNED BY Frank Jonah, on behalf of MOSOP Kingdom Coordinators Forum, it reads: “We write to notify you of how the government of Rivers State of Nigeria falsified documents to claim about 2,000 hectares of farmlands in Ogoniland.
The Movement for The Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has revealed documents showing how the Rivers State Government fraudulently acquired over 2,000 hectares of Ogoni farmlands and handed them to a Mexican farmer for the establishment of a banana plantation.
“The documents which were publicly distributed in Bori, the traditional headquarters of the Ogoni people by the MOSOP Kingdom Coordinators Forum headed by Frank Jonah revealed that the Rivers State Government’s claim of having diligently consulted with the land owners and paid them for the land is far from the truth.
“Documents rather reveal a conspiracy between the Rivers State Government and some persons to fraudulently take over Ogoni farmlands and hand it to a Mexican Farmer”.
MOSOP raised few posers to justify their claims: “The letter was addresses to the paramount ruler of Sogho, Chief A. T. Abalubu, who fraudulently gave consent to the land take over but he is not a signatory to the so-called provisional approval. Is it possible for a notification to be sent on May 15, 2011 and the communities send an acceptance by May 16, 2011 given minimum consultations required to discuss a serious issue as selling 2,000 hectares of farmland?
“Is it possible to consult with all community leaders, heads of families who own massive land, Community Development Committee (CDC) chairmen, and youth leaders to meaningfully negotiate and agree to give an acceptance letter in less than 24hours? “Why is the letter not signed by community leaders and heads of families selling the land, rather acceptance letter is signed by ordinary citizens and associates of political office holders? In which other case since the inception of the Rivers State Government had any negotiation between government and communities over land acquisition been initiated and agreed upon in 24hours? Your answers could just be as good as ours but one thing is clear – TheRivers State Government land acquisition in Ogoni was a fraud which Ogoni people reject.” From all indications, the beat of crisis and drums of ‘war’ are gradually set to be rolled out ad if not quickly resolved, this may affect the fortune of the coming 2015 elections in Rivers State.
