The Obuama Community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State has denied the claim made by the Udekama (Degema) people regarding the ownership of the disputed Obupiri land. In a press briefing held in Port Harcourt, the community presented a paper signed by Prof. Sakeini A. Idoniboye-Obu and Sir Harvest Daobu Harry, which stated that the Udekama's press statement on September 7, 2026, was misleading and distorted.
According to the Obuama Community, the Udekama statement was characterized by falsehood and misrepresentation of facts regarding the history of litigation between the communities. The community reiterated the assertions made by the Usokun community concerning the history of ownership of the disputed land. The paper cited a series of court proceedings dating back to 1935, which supported the Obuama Community's claim to the land.
The Obuama Community specifically debunked the claim that the Usokun people allotted the Obupiri land to an ancestor of Obuama in 1883. Instead, they maintained that King Amachree IV gave the land to their ancestor, the late Chief Idoniboye-Obu. The community also cited Kalabari Native Court Suit No. 23/35, instituted by the Usokun people in 1935, which they lost.
The community further cited Suit No. 164/38, instituted before the Kalabari Native Court in 1938, which was also decided in their favor. The court fixed the boundary between Obuama and Usokun, and no appeal was filed against the ruling. Additionally, the community referenced a 1925 Supreme Court judgment in Will Amachree v. Orku, Goldwatch and Senabor, which supported their position on the historical relationship between the Kalabari people and Udekama communities.
The Obuama Community called on the Usokun community to obey existing court rulings and urged all parties to pursue the longstanding dispute through lawful, peaceful, and constructive means. They emphasized the need to avoid resorting to violence and instead seek a resolution to the dispute through dialogue and adherence to the rule of law.
The community's position on the land dispute has been a subject of contention for many years, with both parties presenting their claims and counter-claims. However, the Obuama Community remains firm in its assertion that the land belongs to them, based on historical facts and court rulings.
The dispute over the Obupiri land highlights the complexities of land ownership and boundary disputes in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta region. The Obuama Community's denial of the Udekama claim is a significant development in the ongoing dispute, and it remains to be seen how the matter will be resolved in the future.
Key points
- - The Obuama Community denies the Udekama claim to the Obupiri land, citing historical facts and court rulings. - The community cites a series of court proceedings dating back to 1935, which support their claim to the land. - The dispute highlights the complexities of land ownership and boundary disputes in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta region.
