Fall out of PDP Crisis: Rivers Govt. Takes over Daar Communications Plc, AIT 868 Plots of Land in Port Harcourt

Daniel Efe /Port Harcourt

Rivers State Government has reversed the ownership and seized the 868 plots of land being occupied by Daar Communications, owners of African Independent Television AIT in Port Harcourt.

Chief Raymond Dokpesi a diehard supporter of Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is founder and owner of Daar Communications Plc owner of African Independent Television (AIT)  currently in conflict with the Governor Nyesom Wike.

The Rivers State House of Assembly reversed the ownership based on the petition by four communities of Ozuoba, Rumuosi, Rumuokwachi and Alakahia in Obio-Akpor local government Council area.

The reversal of ownership was based on a report presented to the house. The Rivers State House of Assembly has reversed the ownership of the eight hundred and sixty-eight plots of land being occupied by DAAR Communication. 

It follows a report presented during plenary by the House Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions. The report is on its findings on the land acquisition petition against the company by the four host communities of Ozuoba, Rumuosi, Rumuekini and Rumukwashi. 

Presenting the report, the Chairman of the House committee, Evans Bipi said the land has been given to the Rivers State Government over wrongful acquisition. Some of the lawmakers accused DAAR Communication PLC of illegal acquisition of the land. 

The report was based on the findings after investigations, public sittings involving the appearances of representives of Daar Communications Plc, the four Communities and other stakeholders.

Speaker of the house, Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani, in his ruling, said DAAR communication PLC should open fresh negotiations with the Rivers State Government on the land.

Our Correspondent reports that the petition against DAAR Communications Plc, operators of AIT and Ray Power FM was first presented on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly on Friday June 3,2023 and presented to the House by Hon. Michael Chinda during plenary.

Observers believe that the action may not be unconnected with the current political fight between Governor Nyesom Wike and supporters of Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

In the petition, the petitioneers said in 1973, the Rivers State Government acquired for public use over Three Hundred and Sixteen (316) acres of land lying and situate along NTA/Choba Road and fronting the East-West Road from Ozuoba, Rumuosi, Rumuokwachi and Alakahia Communities. 

The Rivers State Government in the course of time allotted part of the land to Federal Ministry of Industry for the establishment of Workshop for the training of our people in various skills.

Also, another portion measuring about Fifty (50) acres was allotted to Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN). 

FRCN erected communication masts and building structures. It operated for a very short time before selling the entire station to the Rivers State Government for the use of Radio Rivers.

Similarly, Radio Rivers operated the station for a very short time before DAAR Communications took over the entire station for the use of AIT.

Our investigations revealed that DAAR Communications, as a private investment had no valid title to continue to occupy our Forty (40) acres of such land situated at the center of developed Neighborhood now named Ozuoba GRA Phase 5 by the Rivers State Government.

It was alleged that since DAAR Communications could not improve on the existing development inherited from Radio Rivers, it resorted to leasing out the excess land to farmers, some of which regrettably are natives of the same communities that originally owned the said land.