Bonny Kingdom in Rivers State has faulted the claim of marginalization of Asarama Community in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc with regards to the Bodo-Bonny Road and Bridges Project.
Bonny Kingdom, through the Bodo-Bonny Road Project Liaison Committee (BBRPLC), stated that contrary to the claim by the Asarama Divisional Council of Chiefs as enunciated by its Chairman, Chief Mark Moses Isaiah Jawakon, Asarama Community does not share proximity with the project Right of Way, declaring such claim as “spurious, unfounded and indefensible”.
Chairman of the BBRPLC, Se-Alabo Waripanye Valentine Pepple, who came out with this position in a statement made available to Kristina Reports on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 in Port Harcourt, was reacting to a press briefing by Chief Mark Moses Isaiah Jawakon, who had accused the project implementers, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC of not recognizing them as host community despite several proofs tendered by them.
Se-Alabo Pepple thumbed down the threat of a planned peaceful protest by the Asarama Community over their alleged continued marginalization by Julius Berger PLC, maintaining that no community known as Asarama community or any other known Andoni traditional community exists along the ongoing Bodo-Bonny Road project route.
The Bodo-Bonny Road Project Liaison Committee (BBRPLC) was set up by the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Dr Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, JP, Perekule XI, to liaise, monitor, appraise and report the progress, obstacles and successes of the ongoing Bodo-Bonny Road project.
“The road project take-off point is at Bodo in the Ogoni territory through the Opobo Channel or otherwise called Asarama-Toru all in Bonny Land and territory and not Andoni land or territory.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let it be known and clearly too that the Boundary between Bonny Kingdom and Andoni and ipso facto between Bonny Local Government Area and Andoni Local Government Area is the Andoni River, also locally known and called as Idoni Toru and nothing more.
“The Opobo channel which is also known as Asarama Toru is a Channel or River course leading to Opobo via Asarama Community. There is no doubt that, there are some fishing settlements, harbouring some Andoni fishermen from Asarama and other Andoni Communities.
“This settlement status does not give nor accord the Asarama Community or any other Andoni Community any right of claim over land or territory along the Bodo-Bonny Road Project, as they are mere tenants to Bonny land owners”.
Consequently, the BBRPLC urged the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Julius Berger Plc, and other stakeholders disregard and discountenance the claims of the Asarama Divisional Council of Chiefs that the Opobo Channel or Asarama-Toru belongs to Asarama in Andoni Local Government Area as there was no basis for such ridiculous and bogus claim”.
It warned against the Asarama and their other Andoni kinsmen constituting themselves into clogs in the wheel of progress with regards to the road project, which according to it, would make Bonny equally accessible by road, like other riverine communities in the state.
“It is also noteworthy that Asarama-Andoni being itinerant fishermen who settled along the channel are tenants to Bonny people and houses. This, we repeat, does not give any right of claim or grandstanding posture which the Asarama Council of Chiefs appears to display, lay claim or make demands.”
Checks by Kristina Reports show that Ataba and not the distant Asarama was the nearest Andoni community to Bonny.
Documents also made available to our correspondent show that the Bonny chiefs earlier sued the chiefs and people of Andoni for a declaration of title over the parcels of land called Ifoko Ekpelematubo, Foropaka, Mumakiri, Egelebie Nunabie, Opunanabie, Otolomabibi, Efere Wari, and Opuasaramatoru and won the case against the Obolo (Andoni people).
In the case between Chief F. D. F. Banigo & ANOR (for themselves and on behalf of the chiefs and people of Bonny) and Chief Benjamin of Agana & 13 ORS (for themselves and on behalf of the chiefs and people of Alabie and Ngo) marked Suit No P/79/1956 of the then High Court of the Eastern Region presided by Justice G. F. Dove-Edwin, the court found and held that: “I am satisfied that the boundary between them which has existed for over 100 years is the Andoni River…”
That landmark judgement laid to rest the dispute between the Bonny and the Andoni people over the said lands, and consolidated when the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal filed by the defendants against the said judgement and affirmed the position of the lower court in Appeal No: FSC/86/1958.
Any community that harbours an Andoni man should be careful or else he will lost the land to Andonis.
The world is wicked.