By Eben Enasco Kingsley, Benin
The Oba of Bini Kingdom, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, has disclosed that plans are underway to reintroduce ‘Ugbo Oba’(Oba Farm), and a special farm market where farm produce can be sold only to the low income people as part of his contribution to curb youth restiveness and reduce land speculators in Benin metropolis.
Oba Ewuare 11, made the disclosure in his first extended summit with his people in his palace, after his ascension to the throne as the Oba of Benin Kingdom.
He explained that the aims of the meeting was to bring all together to redefine the bini culture and chat a way forward in engaging the people to bring development across board.
While speaking further, he lamented the high cost of things in the society as he proffer to use numerous lands in Villages owned by the palace for farming to ensure that those who are interested in farming can be engaged through the process that will substitute for high prices of articles in the open market.
“The Oba has land in all the villages and we plan to reintroduce Ugbo Oba (Oba Farms). People will work there and the produce from the farms will be sold at special markets at reduced prices to the poor.
“A Committee to be set up will ensure that only the poor have access to buy things from the special markets.
The monarch who scowl at some of the nefarious activities of his palace chief however warned them to desist from turning the palace into a business place by selling justice for the highest bidders as he found and totally reject some resolutions of the panels set up in the palace by some of his chiefs in dispute settlement as purely biased and therefore called for its disbandment to pave way for a new one of unquestionable traits.
“The era of injustice being perpetrated by some Chiefs in the past will not be entertained. Chiefs who will deliberate on matters relating to land crisis will not be men of questionable characters.
Similarly, he also condemned activities of Community Development Association (CDAs) saying youths have become terror in their communities.
He frowned at the current situation where the CDAs chairmen are custodian of community land instead of the Enogie, Odionwere or Ohen (Chief Priest); adding, “Youths who encroaches on land or grabs other people’s land will be dealt with”, he said.
