The Oworo Foundation has the recent judgment delivered by the Federal High Court of Nigeria, sitting at Lokoja, which confers the exercise of rights and payments of entitlements such as dues, compensation, rents, loyalties of land situated along the Niger-Benue River area on the Attah of Igala as mischievous.
In a statement issued by the Executive Secretary, Kolade Umoru, the foundation stated the claims made before court by Attah Igala, HRM Michael Ameh Oboni II are unfounded, mischievous and inconsistent with the history of the Oworo people who are aboriginal inhabitants of the Niger-Benue Confluence area.
“The Foundation noticed with dismay the claim of ownership and overlordship by the Attah of Igala over the land along the Niger-Benue River since 1841 and the collection of loyalties and tributes from the inhabitants of the land.
“It is pertinent to note that Oworo, who are the first settlers of Lokoja area Pre-1841, has never paid any tribute or royalty to the Attah of Igala. Any act of purported sale or transaction in respect of our land is tantamount to stealing and land speculation as he does not possess the right to do so.
“Perusing the Federal High court judgment, we observed that it was devoid of all reasonable fairness as the Oworo people who are the aborigines of the Niger-Benue Area were not co-defendants in the suit.
“This reminds one of the unfortunate incidence of the Berlin conference 1884 in which the balkanization of Africa was carried out by the Europeans without the consent and presence of African stakeholders.
“At this critical period that Nigeria is grappling with issues of ethnicity and minority question, and concerted efforts are being made to forge unity among the diverse ethnic groups, the Federal High court judgment is capable of dealing a huge blow on these efforts thereby deepening the already existing ethnic lines,” the statement read.
The Foundation condemned and rejected the judgement in its entirety, describing it as travesty of justice. They vowed ro do everything within the ambit of the law to challenge it.
