Daily Independent Online.
*
Monday, June 14, 2004.
Landlords tackle govt over Yenagoa Master Plan
•100,000 to be rendered homeless
By Emma Gbemudu
Correspondent,
Yenagoa
Landlords
in Amarata New Layout, Yenagoa, are on a collision course with the Bayelsa
State Government over plans to demolish their buildings, which have been tagged
illegal structures. The government claims that the illegal structures were
defacing the Master Plan for the state capital, Yenagoa. Amarata, a densely
populated area, is in the heart of the capital.
Until
1996, when the state was created, the plots of land, which have become a
subject of controversy, was a waterlogged virgin land. Majority of the present
occupants of the area are retired military personnel, retired educationists and
civil servants, who acquired the plots through the consent of the indigenous
land owners with their gratuities, and embarked on erecting modern structures
after reclaiming the land.
If
the state government carries out its threat, about 400 buildings will be
demolished any time from now. According to sources, the implementation of the
Master Plan has begun and the government is not prepared to shift ground on its
resolve to implement it to the letter.
Investigation
by Daily Independent revealed that no fewer than
100,000 inhabitants would be rendered homeless after the demolition exercise.
The victims, we gathered, have in the interim gone spiritual, embarking on
intense prayers and fasting to cause the government to reverse its decision.
In
a petition to the state governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, the Landlords
Association of Amarata New Layout claimed that they could not be so careless
and unmindful to encroach into government-acquired lands.
“We
know people, who want to create confusion in order to achieve their parochial
aims, are at work to tarnish your good name you have toiled to achieve. We, the
Landlords of Amarata New Layout Community, humbly wish to appeal to our
God-fearing and humanitarian governor to please reconsider the plans by
government to demolish our houses,” the embattled landlords stated in
their petition.
The
petition signed by the Chairman of the association, Chief Abraham Namatebe, and
the Secretary, Chief Donatus Kalaingo, however stated that if the government
was acquiring the land by virtue of the Land Use Decree, “we suggest the
normal procedures of adequate compensation to victims.” In a separate interview, Namatebe,
a retired Vice-Principal, told our correspondent that the state government was
yet to acquire the controversial land from the Amarata Community. The
retiree lamented that he had spent close to N10 million in erecting his
building, which is yet to be completed. He pleaded that government should allow
the ancient community to exist, saying that they are ready to fight back to
retain their plots.
“The
consequence of the demolition might lead to a state of emergency in Bayelsa
State if government wants to come in by force to acquire our lands. Our
structures were surveyed and legally acquired,” Namatebe added.
But
the government seems determined to go ahead with its plan. A memo from the
Office of the Secretary to the State Government, dated May 27, 2004 stated:
“The taskforce on illegal structures has been directed to inform you that
your building under construction at Amarata infringes on government building
regulation.” The
directive requested that work on the buildings should stop and the structures
pulled down within 72 hours.
In
a protest letter to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly signed by Mrs.
Abokie and Mrs. Grace Namatebe of the Amarata New Layout Women Association,
they argued that the area in question was yet to be acquired by the government,
saying that the houses were all built according to government regulations.
“If
this plan is implemented, it would lead to another refugee problem in the
state. It would affect about 100,000 persons, including men, women and
children,” the Amarata women stated.
They
noted that their husbands are old people who have no other source of livelihood
except their little pension allowances, which they say is not even regular.
“Therefore,
we are appealing to you, in the interest of humanity and justice, to step in
and debate this issue in your Honourable House to avert any unlikely hazard in
the state,” the embittered women pleaded.
The
concerned landlords have been having sleepless nights since they got wind of
the planned demolition exercise, and some of them have simply resigned to fate.
One
of the landlords, Kojo Baker, a retired Nigerian Army Warrant Officer,
expressed fears that the proposed government action would be disastrous if
implemented.
“After
fighting for the nation as a combatant soldier, my children, who are now politicians,
have come to render me homeless. It would have been better I died during the
Civil War than become a refugee in my hometown,” the ex-serviceman
lamented.
The
Women Leader of the Amarata Community, Mrs. Lois Dominic, told Daily
Independent that enough undeveloped plots of lands
were lying fallow in the community, and urged the government to acquire those
undeveloped plots. She emphasised that the land in question had never been
acquired from the community.
The
women leader informed that as part of their contribution to the development of
the area the community was already embarking on a N50 million feeder road
project through self-help. “The government proposed feeder road at
Amarata, from the Ebi Mechanic Road to Sani Abacha Expressway, is lying fallow.
Government should develop the road to give a befitting look at the
community,” she said.
Efforts
to speak to the chairman of the task force on the demolition of illegal
structures, Major S. Inikio (rtd), was not successful, as he was said to be
away on official assignments. We however gathered that government has
temporarily halted the proposed demolition exercise, as consultation and
negotiations are ongoing.
The acute accommodation crisis in Yenagoa has persisted
despite government efforts in constructing more housing estates in the state.
