Rivers Threaten To Acquire Land In Disputed Communities
THE Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has warned that the state government will henceforth acquire any land in dispute between two warring communities and suspend their monarchs in order to ensure peace in the affected areas.
He has also vowed to tackle the issue of insecurity across the state as means of attracting investors and reducing the high of unemployment level.
Wike stated these at a people’s forum organized by the government at the Obi Wali Conference center, Port Harcourt, as part of events to mark his 100 days in office, as the governor of Rivers State.
The governor observed that most of the communal crisis between two communities in the state often stems from dispute over boundary, with each side laying claim to the parcels of land in the disputed areas.
He explained that he has told the Attorney General to work out a legal framework that will enable the state to acquire any such land as a means of restoring peace in the affected communities.
Wike said recently when two communities in Tai and Ogu/Bolo local government areas clashed over land, he summoned the caretaker chairmen of the respective councils to intervene and resolve the problem or considered themselves sacked. He stressed that the threat to sack the chairmen worked as the two worked assiduously to resolve the issue.
To this end, he said besides acquiring disputed land, the state would also suspend the monarchs of affected communities, if they fail to restore peace within their domain.
The governor, while reeling out his achievements in the past 100 days, explained that he has been able to restore democratic institutions such as the Rivers State House of Assembly and reopen the courts, which were under lock and key for over a year during the last administration. He also told the audience that he has been able to pay arrears of salaries and pension owed civil servants and pensioners by the last administration.
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