‘Acquired Ogoni Land Not For Military Barrack’

The Rivers State Government has debunked the insinuation that the land recently acquired in Ogoniland was meant to site a military barrack.

The former commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Mr Emmanuel Chindah said this while reacting to questions during his screening on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly, last Tuesday.

Mr Chindah who was screened for reappointment as a commissioner said that the state government acquired the land for the purpose of cultivating a banana plantation.

According to him, the proposed plantation on the land at Sogho, and Uekan Tai communities are to provide food, revenue and employment opportunities for the people of the state.

He said that the acquisition of the land was carried out after due approval by the state executive council.

He described the controversies generated by the   situation as distractive, saying that the affected have been cooperating with the government on the issue.

It would be recalled that the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP)  had in a series of publications accused the Rivers State Government of planning a military barrack at the acquired plots of land.

However, several prominent Ogonis both within and outside the state have defended the government on the proposed project, which they said will attract huge investment opportunities to the area.