July 25, (THEWILL) – Edo State Government has revoked the over 18 hectares of farmland belonging to the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate at the September 19, 2020 election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Besides farming, Ize-Iyamu also used the18.0736 hectares of farmland on Amagba Village (a fast-developing area, GRA, in Oredo Local Government Area of the state) to train people interested in farming.
Speaking on the matter, a former aide to Obaseki, Adaze Emwanta, explained that the Governor took the decision in the interest of the state.
Emwanta said the Governor derived the power to issue the revocation order from the Land Use Act saying, “The land Ize-Iyamu is laying claim to used to belong to the state government and was meant for a government project, but Ize-Iyamu converted the land to his farmland.”
The Governor, in a letter through Edo State Geographic Information Service, EDOGIS, signed by Mrs. Nora Ohiwerei, for the Managing Director of Urban Planning, on behalf of Governor Obaseki said the Certificate-of-Occupancy (C-O) of the property that houses ‘I. O Farms has been revoked.
“I am directed to inform you that the Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, has formally revoked the statutory right on all that parcel of land measuring approximately 18.0736 hectares in Amagba village area”, the letter read.
Recall that the state government had in a paid announcement listed the property among others whose C-of-O had been revoked.
The exercise affected a former Deputy Governor of the state, Pius Odubu, member representing Owan Constituency in House of Representatives, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, and Mr. Matthew Itamagbor who is a close ally of Oshiomhole, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
