Community leaders and residents in Ogwashi Uku, Delta State, have publicly defended their monarch, His Royal Majesty Obi (Dr) Ifechukwude Aninshi Okonjo II, following allegations by an unidentified woman that the king ordered the destruction of farmland in the area.
The claims surfaced over the weekend in an online video in which the woman accused the monarch of bulldozing her farm and others nearby. However, community stakeholders have dismissed the allegations as false and misleading.
Her Royal Majesty Chief Edith Rafua, acting Omu of Ogwashi Uku Kingdom, said the accusations were part of a “campaign of calumny” and urged residents to continue supporting the monarch’s initiatives for the community’s development.
Speaking after inspecting the farmland behind Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi Uku, Chief Rafua explained that the land had been embroiled in a protracted legal dispute between the community and estate developers.
She said Obi Okonjo II had approached the court in 2021 to reclaim the property, which had been fraudulently mortgaged by individuals without legal authority.
“After a rigorous legal process, the court ruled in favour of the Obi, granting him a Certificate of Warrant of Possession,” she said. “The clearing of pathways on the land followed due legal process. No crops were destroyed, as confirmed by several farmers in the area.”
Chief Rafua questioned the credibility of the anonymous video, emphasising that anyone claiming actual loss should report it through proper channels rather than hiding behind social media.
The Omu also highlighted the monarch’s contributions to the community, including the construction of a mother and child clinic, installation of transformers and boreholes, and the awarding of scholarships to local students.
Prince Ifeakanachukwu Emordi, Secretary of the Obi-in-Council, said the king’s land recovery efforts were aimed at protecting Ogwashi Uku’s ancestral heritage and securing its future generations.
“If not for the intervention of His Majesty, most of our ancestral land would have been lost forever to land grabbers. The court process was transparent, and all relevant authorities were duly informed,” Emordi said.
He called on the public to appreciate the monarch’s leadership and not be misled by unverified claims online.
The community’s response underscores the local support for Obi Okonjo II and the emphasis on legal and procedural clarity in resolving land disputes.
