Ovom Community Lays Claim To Govt House Land

The Paramount Ruler of Ovom Community, His Royal Highness, Chief Mathias Simeon, says the entire landmass covering Bayelsa Government House and all other public institutions within its geographical area, belongs to his people as against claims that it belongs to Yenagoa community.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Yenagoa, Chief Simeon said Ovom community is not in dispute with its neighbours, but it would not also hesitate to caution any person trying to lay claim over land property that historically belongs to his people.

According to him, the demand by Yenagoa community that the whole land area between the jetty downtown as far as Government House belongs to them as such, all institutions in that vast area should be so addressed as lying in Yenagoa area was not only misleading but outrageous.

Chief Simeon also picked holes in another public statement that allegedly warned the Ovom community to stop using Bishop Dimeari Grammer School (BDGS) playground to mark its annual New Yam Festival.

According to the traditional ruler, “Is it logical for a man to beg to use his property, saying that, Ovom community cannot beg to use Bishop Dimeari Grammar School (BDGS) playground for its festival, because the landmass that the school occupies belongs to them.

He denied knowledge that Yenagoa community warned Ovom over the usage of BDGS for its festival, explaining that it was the community’s decision to use the sports complex owing to its central position and space.

He, however said that it was wrong for anyone to seek the re-naming of government institutions cited on Ovom expanse of land, stressing that since creation of Bayelsa State in 1996 successive government and its institutions had always reflected Ovom on its official correspondence and signpost such as Bayelsa State Government House, Ovom.

Others are Old/New Secretariat, Ovom, Revenue House, Ovom, Treasury Building, Ovom, Bishop Dimeari Grammer School, Ovom, Fire Service Office, Ovom, Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Ovom, Bayelsa Police Headquarters, Ovom, Secretariat Annex, Ovom, Banquet Hall, Ovom, Gloryland Cultural Centre, Ovom amongst several others.

He, therefore, challenged those who refused to come to terms with the overwhelming facts, and are still laying claim and ownership of Bayelsa State Government House land and other institutions to take Ovom community to court if they are still in doubt.

“Ovom people are law abiding, but will not fold its arms in cowardice and watch some persons lay false claim over its land, and therefore called on the security agencies, to take step to stop the false claims in order to forestall any unforeseen crises over the issue.