AGANBI STIRS UP GOLFERS AS CANAAN LAND, HOSTS XMAS TOURNAMENT IN KOKO

By: Joe Aminah.

The 2025 year ending professional cum amateur golf tournament as hosted by Canaan Land Golf And Country Club, Koko, may have come and gone but the exciting moments continue to linger on the minds of participants across various golf clubs nationwide.

Under the keen and arduous handling of the son of Canaan Land progenitor, the erstwhile Olaraja of Koko, late Deacon Emeritus (Barr,) Stephen Aganbi, unveiling none other than Sir Felix Aganbi.

Debuting as a model golf course with a dream of a resort attraction, Canaan Land Golf And Country Club has continued to attract amateurs and professional golfers across the length and breathe of the country on a bourgeoning new tag of "Canaan Land Smart City".

Addressing participants at the Christmas golf tournament for both professionals and amateurs in Koko, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Akogate Group Of Companies, Sir, Felix Aganbi, said "we invite you to be involved in our noble plan for Canaan Land that is situate on a lushy landscape with brimming potentials and promises of greater sports and business development, noting that Canaan Land is an Eldorado in the making. 

Felix Aganbi statement is undoubtedly hinged on Canaan Land recent joint venture J V. partnership with a South Africa Real Estate firm, Noble Monarch Realty Investment Limited.in an accord of improving the infrastructural landscape of the golf and entertainment outfits of Canaan Land in Koko.

Sir Aganbi also stretched hands to Investors in real estate, entertainment, leisure and agricultural investors for partnerships that are geared towards greater industrialization of the blessed land. 

In an expository lecture at the sporting event as delivered by erudite legal expert, Barrister Wilson Alasha, explained the right and privileges of government and that of individual owners on the Rights of occupancy of lands under The Land Use Acts.

The legal expert stated that whereas the government ( State Governor) is vested with power of holding every land in trust, such acquisition must be purposeful and in the interest of the state, 

He stressed that any acquired land or property apparently is held in trust by the government but with a caveat of seeming abuse of such privilege and power against its rightful owner or owners.

Barr, Alasha, who spoke on the topic "Legal Implications And Merits Of Real Estate Investments" explained that before the Governor revokes your "right of occupancy, by his power of holding it in trust, he must ensure that the owner is adequately compensated, under the Fundamental Human Rights Act, (Section 28) seen as superior to other sections of the Land Use Act. 

In order to curb the impunity and overriding power of government is.(the Governor) Section 28 is empowered to question the Governor's right by right seen as justifying its power in fairness, rather than abusing it in an oppressive manner.

Land owners, he elaborated, are enabled to challenge the government right of occupancy in law courts if the land or property in question is arbitrarily acquired for selfish and oppressive purposes or without due and adequate compensation for its acquisition.

Overriding public interest by the government must be considered in revocation of land on justifiable reasons by examples of using such land for projects like schools, hospitals or roads, rather than for diversion into a private hands .

No fewer than a hundred golfers from Sapele, Port-Harcourt, Benin, Lagos, Asaba and Warri among others, participated in the keenly contested tournament from Thursday 11th to 14th December under the watchful supervision of Nigeria first international golfer, Festus Makelemi of Warri Golf Club and veteranand Tony Udiomor, ( Benin Club).

Other golf professionals across the state at the Canaan Land meet, were Winner, 1992 African Open Championships, Victor Enaigbe and his brother Osas Enaigbe (Benin club), Austin Akpodiete ( P.H) and his brother Friday Akpodiete (Lagos),( Gabriel Ovie Akakasiaka, ( P.H) and Lucky Id