Esu vs Baba Danpullo land dispute takes crucial twist

 

-As both parties agree to discontinue several court actions

-Commission to probe into the matter soon to be created

The long standing land dispute pitting the people of Esu, a locality in Menchum division and giant business magnet, EL Aladji Baba Danpullo may soon arrive its logical end should both parties heed to resolutions taken at a crisis meeting that took place in Wum, Tuesday December 29. North West Governor, Adolf Lele L’Afrique who chaired the crisis meeting that came at the end of a working visit to the land under dispute has asked for the putting in place of a commission by Menchum senior Divisional officer to probe into the land palaver. Other resolutions arrived at during last Tuesday’s meeting which was also attended by the Attorney General for the North West and the Member of parliament for Menchum North,Hon Ndong Larry Hills include the discontinuation of all legal actions between Baba Danpullo and the people of Esu or individuals. It should be noted that the land dispute which has been raging on for years now, involves a circa 10.000 hectares according to Esu sources which Baba Danpullo has been operating his Elba ranch on.

“My mission here in Esu was first of all to assess the situation in this area where there is an ongoing conflict between Elba ranch and the people of Esu.we have assessed the situation before holding this secret meeting. Today, We arrived at some resolutions, both parties agreed to withdraw the case that are still pending at the level of the judiciary pitting Aladji Danpullo and the people of Esu. As far as the environmental issues are concern, the population were complaining of some various environmental disturbances. There were issues of water as well, for that we have agreed with the regional delegate to investigate the issues” the regional chief executive told newsmen shortly after the incamera meeting.

He added “As far as the land issue is concern, the SDO has been asked to form a committee to probe into the issue in order to settle that land conflict. While waiting, both parties agreed that no major problem will happen there again to disrupt public order”

It was a seemingly satisfied Fon Albert Kum-a-Chuo II of Esu who told reporters “ I am happy that the Governor himself and other top personalities of the region, have come down to look into the worries of my population as far as the land issue is concern”

Asked of what they want of Baba Danpullo, Fon Albert Kum who has been imploring King Solomon’s wisdom to prevent the conflict to lead to bloodshed tabled that “all we want is for Danpullo to liberate that area. my population has increased, we need places to build and we need places to farm. You know, my predecessor simply gave him that place for grazing, and you know according to grazing norms, cattle are not supposed to co-habitat with human beings. As the population is growing, cattle are supposed to move. We are not asking him to leave the Esu Fondom, we are simply asking him to relocate with his cattle to a place I intend to show him in collaboration with my traditional council”.

To Hon Ndong Larry Hills, the delibreations behind closed- doors were fruitful. “After the working session, we have adopted three main resolutions which are going to be followed. The final one is the commission to be put in place such that they can go to the field and identify the problems the population of Esu have been facing”.