By Festus Ahon

ASABA—RESIDENTS of Okpanam community, Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State, have taken to the streets in protest against the alleged high handedness of the state government in its land regularization process.

The protesters who blocked the access road opposite the Asaba airport with charms and amulets, appealed to the state government to reconsider its position on the land regularization process.

The protesters made up of landlords, tenants, youths and the aged, held placards and chanted songs of resentment, as they stood behind the charms, to bar motorists from using the road.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the youth leader of Ezechie Okonye family of Okpanam, Okonkwo Ezechei, said; “We came out here to meet with the Delta State Ministry of Lands and Survey to have a meeting so as to resolve the issue.

“They fixed a mandatory levy of N1.5 million and above for the regularization. But with the economic situation in Nigeria today, it is hard for us to pay that kind of money. We are appealing to the state government to reduce the money. We are ready to comply with them, but let them reduce the money so that our people can accept to pay.”

“If we accept to pay, honestly, we will be lying to the government because we may never turn up in the next 20 years. The money is just not there. That is why we are begging them to reduce the money. When we complained, they brought some documents for us. We want them to peg the payment at what others pay as fasttrack fee of N225, 000.”

On the charms, Okonkwo said; “Its not charms but a shrine; this is the Akwukwa family shrine that we brought its objects here. Any time we are having a sitting, we bring it down to the place we meet.”

Prince Obaro Onuafe, a resident and property owner also appealed to the state government to reconsider the levy, saying; “I am a resident of this section of Ogbewele quarters, opposite the Asaba airport. I met all the requirements for owning property in the area.”