PRESCO: Farmers Threaten To Work Against Delta PDP In 2023 Elections

By Daniel Dafe

Farmers in Delta State have threatened to work against the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2023 general elections if the Okowa adminstration continues to act unconcerned about the issue of invasion of their farmland by PRESCO PLC in three local government areas, namely Ukwuani, Ethiope East and Ethiope West.

Delta State Tunjja Head Farmers Association on Wednesday protested in Asaba against the encroachment and destruction of their crops by PRESCO PLC.

The farmers stormed the Delta State House of.Assembly with various placard inscription such as ” PRESCO PLC; for land grabbing; forceful invasion, and destruction of our farmland and crops, Delta/Edo land disputes: We say no to land grabbing, Great farmers, Great Nation, No farmers, No Nation.”

Speaking to Oasis Magazine, Mr. Oraka Saint Paul, Secretary General, Tunjja Head Farmers Association, said that if the farmers are not attended to within the shortest time, the government of Delta State and the PDP administration, should not expect votes from the farmers, next year saying that no farmer will vote for PDP in the coming elections.

“Until they stop Presco and Edo State Government, we have agreed to work against them, in fact, to stand with their opponents,” he said.

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He said the protest was because the government of Delta State has been unconcerned about their plight.

According to him, they are unhappy that Edo State government has grabbed their land, saying they issued a Right of Occupancy to PRESCO PLC and Edo Oil Farm Programme.

He said that the Edo Oil Farn Programme and PRESCO have continued their encroachments into their farms and the government is silent.

“We have been farming on the land for a decade. Our great grandfathers farmed on that land, our forefathers farmed on that land, then today, we are still farming on that land. From nowhere, some people came and said they are Presco, that the whole land belongs to them and that it has been given to them by Edo State Government. On the other hand, another people came again saying that they are Edo State Oil Farm Programme. As I’m talking to you, over 50,000 hectares have been syphoned from our hands. All our plantations, cassava, and other variety of crops which include plantain, potatoes, yam, and what have you, have been utterly and totally destroyed. As I speak to you, we have no source of livelihood anymore. We have been in the Federal High Court since last year, but these people still carry on with their illicit acts. And as I speak with you, the government of Delta State has been feeling so adamant, so that’s why we decided to march today, in solidarity, with all farmers in Delta State, which comprises of three local governments, the Ethiope East LG, Ukwuani LG and Ethiope West LG and we stormed the State Assembly, in order to let them know what we are passing through and how we can be able to get back to our land.

“These places, as I speak to you, they are communities that have been signed since the Military Administration in 1995, till this present day Deputy Governor, who signed the previous two, one in 2016, then one in 2018,” he added.

Oraka said that about 100 persons participated in the protest.

He continued: “None of the lawmakers were on seat. So, one of the Senior Special Adviser to the Deputy Speaker came, and he spoke with us and pleaded that this matter will be treated with urgency. And we equally informed Mr Speaker that if they don’t do anything about this issue, that they should not expect our votes by 2023.”

“In Delta state alone, farmers can give up to one million vote in a minimum because just within this our region we have over fifteen thousand farmers within this area. We are not talking about those who come to buy because those who come to buy the farm produce are also farmers. We are talking about farmers who are working within this region, we are over fifteen to twenty thousand farmers and he’s trying to displace over fifteen to twenty thousand people and you say you are fighting hunger or poverty.

“Our one million vote will cut across all sections of Delta state including the 25 local government areas. So, we are ready to pull out one million vote of farmers to give to a responsible candidate from any other party.