By Daniel Aroren Noah Osa-Ogbegie
My attention has been drawn to a publication in the Vanguard Newspapers online version on 24th July, 2021 under the heading above.
While I praise the reporter Ozioruwa Aliu, for correctly stating the noble causes the farm is used and that even the Governor, Godwin Obaseki, used the facility to train participants in a certain CBN programme , it is pertinent to correct the brazen lies and deliberate misinformation by one Adaze Emwanta, whose interview was referenced in the report and I quote:
“A former aide to Obaseki, Adaze Emwanta, explained the governor took the decision in the interest of the state.
He said he derived the power from the Land Use Act saying “the land Ize-Iyamu is laying claim to, used to belong to the state government, and was meant for a government project. But Ize-Iyamu converted the land to his farmland”.
I have seen many falsehoods on this matter perpetrated by spin Doctors and rabble rousers , flying around the social media space in the past few days, but this got my attention because the fellow was referred to as a former government official who ordinarily should be taken seriously. So for the sake of those who were not aware that Godwin Obaseki hired thousands of persons as media aids last year, to push his propaganda, and Adaze Emwanta, who has nauseatingly honed his Goebbels’ skills was at the forefront of this goebbelism, it is trite to state the truth below:
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu legally acquired the piece of land from members of the Amagba community over a decade ago, during the government of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The land never belonged to the Edo State Government and could not have been earmarked for any government project.
The general public is hereby advised to discountenance attempts by hustlers to milk the situation for their own benefits. I am aware that Godwin Obaseki government has shortlisted over One thousand names for appointments and a screening process is ongoing for final selection . In a clime where people are hardly held to any integrity test, elements like Adaze Emwanta would always resort to concocting blatant lies like what he did in this report, just to get attention and be considered for appointment.
For the avoidance of doubt, the so-called revocation of the above mentioned land by the Godwin Obaseki government is politically motivated, malicious and unconscionable. It is a resort to the crude and bitter politics of the early 50s that cannot be allowed to stand in this age and time.
The law exists for the orderliness and good governance of the society. Government cannot be allowed to be capricious and whimsical, otherwise the society is in danger. It is the reason the Land Use Act, which is an integral part of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and judicial authorities, laid down procedures and condition precedence guiding the revocation and compulsory acquisition of land in any State in Nigeria. Godwin Obaseki refused to follow these procedures and conditions, in his haste to have his pound of flesh from a man he considers his arc political enemy.
The days and months ahead would be interesting as I know Pastor Ize-Iyamu will challenge the revocation and it will demonstrate that there are still laws in this Country.
Daniel Aroren Noah Osa-Ogbegie is a Benin based legal practitioner and Managing Partner of OGBEGIE & ASSOCIATES, a Firm of Lawyers.