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…As Landlords Risk Losing Homes In Bayelsa
Octogenarians, Ma. Oyintari Pulumo, 84, and Pa. Torudei Amaemi, 81, owners of landed properties in the twin streets of Kia and Canaan in the School-To-Land Authority precincts of Biogbolo(ii), in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital have joined co-landlords in the area to plead with the State Government to reconsider its planned reacquisition of a number of land allegedly belonging to the State’s Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources alleged to have been encroached on in the area.
The aged landlords who spoke with newsmen on a visit to the area yesterday said already the State Government has begun parameter fencing of the area with plans to include their houses in the fencing works.
Ma. Pulumo and Pa. Amaemi feared that upon the completion of parameters fencing in the area, their houses and those of others numbering over 300 would be demolished and thus make them homeless, worsening their living conditions amidst harsh economic realities.
The duo contented that they have been living in the area for no fewer than 15 years upon the purchase of lands from the Biogbolo community and subsequent building of their houses with hard earned meagre resources.
They said: “We’ve been living in the houses we built here without notice of encroachment from successive administrations of the state till recently when the State’s Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources suddenly came up with the idea that landlords in the area were living on Government’s acquired property.
“At our age, we’re so fragile and vulnerable. If our houses are demolished today after the completion of the ongoing parameters fencing we will be rendered homeless.
“From the day Government through the Ministry of Agriculture commenced the new fencing project here our hearts have not stop beating with fears and anxiety. Where do we go from here if our homes were destroyed?
“We want to plead with Government for understanding. We don’t think the community people who sold us the lands grabbed it from the Government because we’ve documented proof of ownership of our lands and properties”.
Also speaking, Comrade Saint Ikpokpo, an affected property owner in the area, called on the Government to listen to the plight of the landlords and residents of the area, saying if things go on as planned by the Agriculture Ministry, many households will become miserable and homeless.
“I bought my land from the Biogbolo community as far back as 2008, and built my house almost immediately. Though the School-To-Land Authority of the Government has been operating in this area too, but no Government official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources has ever came to inform us all these years that where we bought was a Government land till recently.
He said: “I like to call on the Government to reconsider its decision of parameters fencing and reacquisition of this land. Already the School-To-Land Authority is sitting on about a 10 acres of land”.
