Fidelis David in Akure
Over 10,000 farmers in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State yesterday berated Ondo state government’s forceful destruction of their cash crops farms in disobedience to court order.
The farmers who trooped out to address journalists in Akure the state capital alleged that the present administration had sold their cocoa plantations to a private company without any prior negotiation or notification.
Speaking, their Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Abayomi Isileye, alleged that the company to which their plantations were sold had stormed their farms with earthmoving equipment and uprooted their cocoa trees, kola nut, and palm trees.
He explained that the State High Court at Ore Judicial Division presided over by Justice Aderemi Adegoroye, had in a Suit No. HOR/14/2023 granted an interim injunction, restraining the Ondo State Government and the company from further grading or continuing to grade their plantations.
Isileye explained that all farmers from seven villages including Temidire, Adeleye Itamerin, Ikawo, Ijoba, Ayeleso, Isero and their sub-camps which were affected paid annual levies to the state government.
His words: “We are Cocoa farmers, tenants of the Ondo State Government, farming in the Oluwa forest reserve in various settlements grouped into camps of Temidire, Adeleye Itamerin, Ikawo, Ijoba, Ayeleso, Isero and their sub-camps, within Oluwa Forest Reserve (OA3A) Odigbo, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, who are also Claimants in SuitnoHOR/14/2023 – Abayomi Rotimi Isileye and Others Vs Ondo State Government and Others, filed over government forceful eviction of our members from our cultivated cocoa farmlands on land rented from government with annual payment of rent in order to accommodate private companies buying up lands in the government forest reserve for the cultivation of oil palm trees.
“In the case filed by our counsel, Tope Temokun and upon the application he moved in SUIT NO. HOR/14/2023 – Abayomi Rotimi Isileye and Others Vs Ondo State Government and Others, on the 2nd of May 2023, the Ondo State High Court at Ore Judicial Division sitting in Ondo, Ondo State, presided over by Justice Aderemi Adegoroye, granted an interim injunction, restraining the Ondo State Government and SAO Agro-allied Services Limited among others, from further grading or continuing to grade Our Cocoa plantations and farmlands at Temidire, Adeleye, Itamerin, Ikawo, Ijoba, Ayeleso and that sub-camps within Oluwa Forest Reserve (OA3A) in Odigbo, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, the subject matter of the suit pending before the Court. The order was drawn up and obtained and served on the defendants accordingly”, he said.
He also alleged that Babajide, the son of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was the promoter of the private companies buying up the State forest reserve lands.
“Surprisingly after the giving of this order, with the backing of the Ondo State government and in flagrant disobedience to the said Order of the Court, workmen of SAO Agro-allied Services Limited, under heavy armament of combined team of over 100 Amotekun Officers, soldiers and local vigilance and gunmen, were mobilised to the farms and they claimed they have the directive of the governor’s son, who is the behind-the-scene veiled chief promoter of these private companies buying up the Ondo State forest reserve lands, to shoot and kill anyone who dares to protest around the farms or dares to stop their work and they have continued on daily basis to grade our Cocoa farmlands in the Oluwa forest reserve”.
The farmers said notable well-meaning Nigerians have intervened but the state government has remained adamant.
“The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi , has made representations and delegations to the Governor of Ondo State to intervene in this matter to see that due process is followed but the destruction of our farmlands have been continued by SAO Agro-allied Services Limited, with the backing of government force and state apparatus, in disobedience of an order of Court. We hereby cry out to the world, to SAVE OUR SOULS! They said Babajide Akeredolu asked them to shoot and kill us!”, Isileye added.
In a reaction, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture and Agribusiness, Mr, Akin Olotu explained that the forest was being cleared to give way for the planting of oil palm as demanded by the Central Bank of Nigeria, stressing that the forest belongs to the state government and the ownernership was not at any time transferred to any farmers.
“They have done incalculable damage to the cocoa business in Ondo state. In the global market, it has been observed that cocoa in Ondo state is planted in the forest reserve and EU is of the opinion that they don’t want any chocolate product that is coming from forest reserves. Those that will bear that brunt are the real cocoa farmers that are farming on community land.
“Apart from that, it was as a result of security threat. When there was insecurity all over, it was part of South West decision to evict illegal farmers on government reserves.
“Who gave them the place in the first place? We need to recover our forest. We have photographs of the farmers setting big trees on fire, cultivating Indian Hemp. So, it is serious matter. We can’t jeopardize the interest of everybody in the state, the country and those passing by because some few people are utilizing the forest illegally”, Olotu clarified.
