By Ayodele Oni
As equipments are being moved in by Ondo State Government to commence destruction of cocoa plantations, at Idanre forest reserve, following allocation of the land to investors, the Idanre Monarch has cautioned Government against the move which he described as anti-people.
A portion of the forest reserve in Idanre has been reportedly demarcated and allocated by the State Government to some investors for industrial purpose.
Some farmers, who already have cocoa plantations on the land spanning several years, have kicked against the planned move, which they believe will destroy their means of livelihood.
Following mounting tension over Government recalcitrant, the Owa of Idanre, Oba Fredrick Aroloye has written to the state Government pleading that “I wish to appeal to your Excellency for a stay of further action on the planned destruction of cocoa farmland in preparation for the take-over of the area by investors.
“I will suggest to you, to call for a meeting between the government and ldanre community representatives and the farmers to work out an arrangement that will douse tension in the area.
“The community is willing to cooperate with you to ensure a crisis free forest area.
“Your Excellency, the truth is that the ongoing exercise of destroying Cocoa plantations in the reserved area, is an unpopular exercise with the people of my community.
“We do not need to embark on a voyage that will generate dastardly chains of reactions of sinister activities from displaced persons, who will in their quest to make ends meet, resort to illegal activities.
“Such reactions could further worsen the already fragile security condition across the land and become a serious distraction to the Government and the public.
“I hope that your Excellency will find time to reflect on my position and rescind the decision to completely remove Cocoa plantations from the Forest Reserve area. lt will save the state from unnecessary security and economic Pressures.
Thank you very much for your time spent in reading and reasoning with me.”
The monarch also protested against Government refusal to carry him along by seeking his views before a decision was taken on the forest reserve.
“I consider it expedient to convey my view based on my people’s reactions to the proposed exercise in respect of the subject matter of the letter from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’ dated May 2O22. In the said letter, I was invited to a meeting on l0th May 2022.
“Foremost, I feel slighted on the fact that tractors have started moving into the area to carry out the removal of Cocoa plantations before I got the belated invitation letter to the meeting on the above subject matter.
“You will agree with me that IDANRE people are predominantly farmers, having no other means of livelihood than Agriculture, farming precisely.
“On my part, I acknowledge and understand the need for re-afforestation in other to combat the menace of climate change and other environmental hazards, which are outcomes of man’s activities in the environment.
“Your Excellency, while there is no doubt that ldanre submitted the area to the then government for protection and forestry purpose, its important to remind the state government that this was subject to certain conditions.
“One of the conditions is that the forest was to be managed in the interest of the government and ldanre people. The gazette equally provides for regular carving out of enclaves and farm settlements to accommodate farming and related activities of the growing population of the ldanre people.
“lt is, therefore, laudable that when your government came on board it started a policy of integration of the farmers in the area, from records, it’s clear that my people have been meeting all the conditions laid down by your good government in the Agro – forestry arrangement.”
