Twenty-three communities in the Orhionmwon local government area of Edo State have protested the alleged ceding of their forest reserve to Saro Oil Palm investors for the establishment of oil palm plantation by the state governor, Godwin Obaseki.

The communities said they abandoned their own son, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’ who was contesting the same position with the governor to vote for him (Obaseki) and wondered why they were being treated in this manner.

The protesters brandished placards of various inscriptions that read thus”Mr Governor, Orhionmwon doesn’t have land for oil palm, Mr Obaseki, we voted for you, don’t do us like this and others”.

A spokesperson for the 23 communities, Larry Enobakhare, said where the Urhonigbe forest reserve was located, was donated by their forefathers while other communities refused to do the same.

He said the forest reserve is their only means of livelihood where they carry out their farming activities to feed their families.

Enobakhare who named the protesting communities to Urhonigbe, Ugo, Orogho, Urhomehe, Umwohun- Zuagbo among others, alleged that while the Fulani Herdsmen are killing and pursuing their people from one side of the farmland, some people from Delta State are encroaching to a great extent from another side of the forest reserve area.

“The only area left for us to the farm which is not even sufficient for our farming population is where the governor is planning to give to the oil palm investors. We are begging you Mr governor to relocate the SARO Oil palm investors or any other oil palm investor to another local government area in the state.

Also speaking, Chief G. O. Osadolor brought to the governor’s notice the deplorable roads in the entire Orhionmwon local government area.

According to him, there is no single motorable road in Orhionmwon local government area, the Benin/Abraka road leading to the Urhoghide forest reserve is now a death trap and no vehicle can pass it now to Delta State.

“The people of Orhionmwon local government area are crude oil-producing communities yet they have no asses to any social amenities. No road, no electricity, no portable water and the forest where we farm to earn our living is being taken from us again to give to oil palm investors. We are appealing to the governor to please have a rethink on this issue,” Osadolor pleaded.

(Daily Independent)

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