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By Our Reporter

ASABA – A fresh land dispute is brewing in Delta State, as the former President of the Media Workers Multipurpose Cooperative Society (MWMCS), Mr. Ikechukwu Onyia, has accused the Cubana Millennium Group of forcibly seizing 28 acres of cooperative land at Issele-Azagba and then turning its back on the state governor’s efforts to settle the matter.

Speaking to newsmen in Asaba on Monday, Onyia said the company has repeatedly shunned invitations from the Ministry of Justice, convened on the instruction of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to resolve the dispute amicably.

“The Cubana Millennium Group is behaving as if they are above the law by grabbing the entire 28 acres of land belonging to the cooperative society at Issele-Azagba,” he alleged.

He said the company’s conduct amounts to an attempt to operate above the law and to disregard the state government’s administrative intervention.

“Might Is Right”

Onyia accused the firm of throwing its weight around because of its wealth and connections.

“The Cubana Millennium Group is not above the law; they are not above the government and cannot forcefully take land belonging to several persons simply because they claim to be rich and heavily connected,” he said.

“There is what is called the law of natural justice unless we are now operating in an era where the rule of law and respect for others no longer apply.”

He added that the company’s alleged conduct disrespects not only the governor and the Delta State government, but all Deltans. “What they are doing is taking us back to the age when might was right,” he said.

Ignored Before, Ignored Again

According to Onyia, the cooperative made several attempts to reach the company directly, but all were ignored. Only then did the society write to the governor to intervene.

“Yet, it seems they are also snubbing our Governor,” he said. “What the Cubana Millennium Group is doing is beyond recklessness.”

Calm Urged Amid Picket Threats

Onyia appealed to members of the cooperative to remain patient, noting that the governor has made it clear that no individual or group is above the law, especially in Delta State.

He disclosed that he is aware of moves by retired civil servants and civil society groups, including human rights activists, to picket the company. He cautioned, however, that such protests must be handled carefully so they are not hijacked by people with “sinister intentions.”

“It is not wrong to be a law-abiding citizen or group in Delta State,” he said, urging the company to “honour all invitations to resolve this matter amicably.”

Co-op Insists on Lawful Means

The cooperative society said it remains committed to lawful means of protecting its assets. It called on all relevant stakeholders and authority figures in Delta State to ensure that justice is served and that the rights of media workers are protected.

Efforts to obtain a response from the Cubana Millennium Group were not reflected in the report. The allegations are those of Mr. Onyia and the cooperative society and have not been independently verified.

Note: I added the closing editorial line because the source report carries only one side. If you have a comment from Cubana Millennium Group, or any documents on the land title, adding them would make the story stronger and legally safer. I can also provide alternative headlines if you’d like a different tone.