Amidst the 25 percent equity derivable from the Kwale Industrial Park in which the Delta state government has planned to factor in Host Communities, the state government has been accused of insincerity and shoddy deals in the agreement.
The proposed Kwale Industrial Park, has come under threat, as the Umusam community in Utagba-Ogbe, Ndokwa west local government area of the state, has withdrawn its participation from the multi billion naira project.
The community in a withdrawal notice, endorsed by 17 families made available to journalists in Asaba on Sunday 27th March 2021, stated that their decision was based on frustration and insincerity on the part of state government.
They disclosed that the statement, which was signed by 17 family heads and witnessed by notable community leaders, was a collective decision of stakeholders that includes the Okpala-Uku, Okwas, Inotu-in-Council and the Traditional Prime Minister (Odogu Abi) of Umusam Community, Utagba-Ogbe Kingdom and other relevant stakeholders
According to the statement, “We, the entire families comprising Umusam Community, Kwale, particularly Umu-Okpala Owelle family, Umu-Esume Owelle family; Umu-Eze Owelle family, Umu-Ajuwa Owelle famly , Umu-Chime Olodu family, Umu-Ewenyia Ossai family, Umu-Otula Anike family, Umu-Otutu Enebeli family, Umu-Ogwe family, Umu-Enwegwe family, Umu-Okpiti family, Umu-Ekwukwo Enyi family, Umu-Owuzor Onwuka family, Umu-Abada family, Umu-Akata family, Umu-Oji family and Umu-Onwusa family states that we are agrarian in nature.
“Consequently, the parcels of land belonging to the aforementioned families in Umusam community are not for sale; and have not been assigned, conveyed, transferred, allotted nor lease to any person, authority, institution or government in Delta State or outside Delta State for the establishment of an industrial park or for any other purpose other than the established agrarian purpose for which the aforementioned farmlands are currently deployed into by the various members of the aforementioned families in Umusam Community.”
“We the entire families in Umusam Community, particularly the aforementioned families, further states that any person, authority, institution or government in Delta State or outside Delta State who deals/transacts with Chief Sunday Nwose (outgoing Community Developement Committee, CDC, Chairman); Mr. Azuka Henry Onyemike, Chief Peter .A. Okpu, Mr. Kenneth Onefeli (outgoing CDC, Secretary); their agents, servant, privies, workmen or any person by whosoever name so called in respect of the various parcels of land belonging to the aforementioned families in Umusam Community for the establishment of an industrial park or any other purpose does so at his own risk/peril.
“The position stated above is the collective decision of the Okpala-Uku of Umsam Community; Okwas of Umusam Community; Inotu-in-Council of Umusam Community; Traditional Prime Minister/Odogu Abi of Umusam Community/Utagba-Ogbe Kingdom and other relevant stakeholders in Umusam Community, Kwal, Ndokwa Weat Local Government Area, Delta State.
“The purpose of the collective decision of the aforementioned relevant stakeholders of Umusam Community is to preserve the rich oil bearing farmlands in Umusam Community, Kwale, Ndokwa West Local Government Area, Delta State”.
Signatories to this disclaimer are Okwa Nzeke
(Head of Umu-Okpala Owelle family), Mr. Sunday Micheal Uti
(Head of Umu-Esume Owelle family), and Mr. Nzete Eze
(Head of Umu-Eze Owelle family), Mr. Joseph Okonwa
(Head of Umu-Ajuwa Owelle family), Mr. Ernest Enebeli
(Head of Umu-Chime Olodu family), Mr. Fredrick Okonye
(Head of Umu-Ewenyia Ossai family), Mr. Patrick Osuya Uwadia , Chief Sunday Enefe
Mr. John Ikurugwor (Head of Umu-Ogwe family).
Others are; Mr. Micheal Enebeli (Head of Umu-Enwagwe family), Mr. Dickson Enubuzor (Head of Umu-Okpiti family), Mr. Joseph Agbaniko
(Head of Umu-Ekwukwo Enyi family), Mr. Anthony Nu Ojieh
(Head of Umu-Owuzor onwuka family), Chief Victor Opute
(Head of Umu-Abada family), Mr. Monday Asata (Head of Umu-Akata family), Okwa Osonuwe (Head of Umu-Oji family) and Chief Christopher Opute (Head of Umu-Onwusa family).
“Witnesses to this disclaimer were Okwa (high chief) P. C Igwe, Palace High Chief (the Awalum Ike 1 of Utagba-Ogbe Kingdom. Chief Dennis Igwe
(Traditional Prime Minister/Odogu Abi of Umusam community/Utagba-Ogbe Kingdom and Community Spokesman, Chief Hon. Alex Ogwezi”.
It would be recall that on Friday 22nd January 2021, the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, during a Post Exco briefing, disclosed that the state government has approved the full establishment and operationalization of the Kwale Industrial Park.
At press time, it was not clear if the withdrawal by the Umusam community, would halt the multi-billion project which took a team led by the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to China, in 2019.
