Tension Heightens Between Binis and Ijaws over Gelelege Land

Adibe Emenyonu There is every indication that the Benins and Ijaws in Edo State may go into battle over alleged plans by Ijaw traditional rulers in Bayelsa and Delta State to install Mr. Edwin Ogunyenbo, as the Pere of Olodiama Kingdom in Gelegele kingdom in Ovia North East Local government Area of Edo State

This is as the Benin National Congress (BNC) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), yesterday expressed readiness to go to war over the land.

In a statement by the BNC which was signed by Osaretin Igbinogun, its Director of Mobilisation, stressed that Gelegele land belongs to the Oba of Benin insisting that the Ijaws are visitors who have overstayed their welcome.

On the other hand, tthe IYC through a statement signed by its President, Eric Omare, described the statement credited to the Edo State Government and the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) over the ownership of the land as unacceptable, asserting that Gelegele land is an Ijaw enclave and they had the right to install a traditional ruler of their choice.

Last Tuesday, security operatives aborted the installation of one Godwin Oguyenbo as the Pere of Olodiama community after the state government declared the installation as unconstitutional and an attempt to create another monarchy in Benin Kingdom.

However, the BNC stated that the entire landmass referred to as Gelegele in the supreme court judgment bothering Ughoton and the Bight of Benin belong to the Benins and customarily under the authority of the Oba of Benin is not in contest.

“We wish to alert the security apparatuses to swing into action by stopping this warring act by one ‘Pere’ who seek to establish a fiefdom and declare himself as a Fief in our land, this is because, if the Benins resolved to militantly engage this war mongers we will not take likely to any clampdown on Benin youths for acting in self -defense of our territory,” Igbinogun said.