In Ogun, Farmers Protest Forceful  Acquisition of Farmland

By Femi Ogbonnikan in Abeokuta

Protesting farmers and residents of Odogbolu town,  in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State, have protested what they described as “forceful acquisition of their farm land”, measuring about 2,000 hectares, by the state government in aid of foreign investors.

The unsavoury move by the state government, according to the protesters, has deprived many of them of their main sources of livelihood.

Speaking on behalf of the community, at the palace of Alaye of Odogbolu, where the peaceful protest was held, Elder Babatunde Jaiyesimi, alleged that the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Adedeji Onagoruwa, conspired with the foreign investors to seize their farmlands.

Jaiyesinmi alleged further that since the foreign investors moved in to clear the land, farm crops belonging to the farmers, such as plantain, cassava and rice plantations, as well as fish ponds, running into several millions of naira, have been destroyed, leaving many residents of the town with no means of fending for their livelihood.

‘’Rather than destroying our substantial contributions to the government’s effort to diversify the economy via agriculture, out of about 1,200 hectares of land acquired some years ago for Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority, about 650 hectares of land is still lying fallow and now a safe havens for some Fulani herdsmen and their cows, why can’t this vast parcel of land be given to the investors instead of the one where many of us pick our daily bread from? This move smacks of sheer insensitivity to the plight of the rural dwellers”. He stated.

He, therefore, called on the State governor,  Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to wade into the matter and ensure that justice is served in the interest of peace and continuous development of the community and Ogun State at large.

Addressing the protesters, Oba Onagoruwa, denied any connivance in the sale of the farmland to foreign investors. But he promised to get in touch with eminent personalities, such as Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd) and appropriate government quarters, to find solution to the matter.

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