Crisis As Ondo Govt Is Set To Eject Farmers From Reserves; It’s Untrue Says Gov’s Aide

By Ayodele Oni

More than 50,000 farmers and inhabitants of some villages in Ondo West Local Government area of Ondo State on Sunday  protested over plot by the State government to sell their farmlands and Cocoa plantations to  foreign companies.

The farmers, who converged on Ilua village in Ondo West Council area in large number with placards also alleged that the state government had issued a quite notice to all the farmers in all the 20 villages in the area to vacate their farms.

The protesters also alleged that government officials have threatened to evacuate them forcefully if they failed to relocate before the end of the year.

Addressing newsmen before the mammoth crowd, the traditional head of Ilua, Oba Olalani Ibidapo, said: “There were some people who came to our villages and started erecting signposts that the state government has sold our farmlands and villages to Chinese and Indian companies.

“They said government has issued notice that we should quit our farms and villages because the companies wanted to move in and take over our farms and villages.

“We have been here for over 100 years and we are here farming, no other things. I have more than 19 villages under me here, Ilua, Laoso, Adejori, Logunofe, Keseomi, Obadore, Obakele, Ilua 2, Kangidi, Oloruntedo, Abayemisi and Magbaralewon just to mention a few.

“Other communities protesting with us Oloruntedo, Aba Tiamiyu, Osu Tokunbo, Abana, Olorunsogo and other communities.

“We heard suddenly that we should move out unexpectedly. Where are we going to go. Look at our people, no work. We have graduates among us here, but since there’s no job, they ventured into farming.

Reacting, to the forceful allegation, the state government, through Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture, Akin Olotu explained that “It has come to the notice of the Ondo State Government that some elements are spreading fake news that the government is planning to display villagers particularly those occupying free areas in the state which is far from the truth.”

Olotu said the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu led-administration is not out to punish anybody but to make things better.

Olotu was reacting to media reports that the Government is planning to wipe out 19 villages in Ondo west local government area villages and displace over 50,000 farmers for the benefit of private firm owned by some Indians and Chinese.

According to him, no sensible government will displace anybody in any free area.

“So we want to look at that place, I will invite their representatives, we will sit down together and look at a win-win situation and see how we can we accommodate their interests in what we are doing.

“Governance is about the people. So when we see what is on ground, we will know what to do. Our little investigation shows that where they are is even out of where those people are coming to work.

“So maybe it’s anticipatory action, that may be. We will send Government surveyors there to confirm the precise location, if anybody is affected, we will look at it whether it’s government reserve because nobody came to us in the office and I think that should be the first thing to do, to come to say okay what is going on here.

“So we will find out, we will look at how we will resolve the whole thing amicably. So if they are in government reserve, we will know what to do.

“If they are in free area, we already know what to do. Nobody’s interest will be jeopardized, that’s what I will say. The Governor is not out to punish anybody but to make things better. So we will look at it. Thank you.”