By Olasubomi Olateju
The Federation of Odo-Oro Ekiti Development Union,FODU, in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State has appealed to the Ekiti state government to urgently intervene in what it described as the trespass/criminal/destructions/unlawful encroachment on its farmland by a private company, Agbeyewa Farms Ltd., Ado-Ekiti.
The body made the appeal at a press conference held on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024 and addressed by its lawyer, Barrister Kayode Adewunmi, at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists,NUJ, Ado-Ekiti.
Members of the families affected by the alleged illegal clearing and the destruction of farms and other activities by the company were represented by High Chief Omoniyi Joseph Bamisaye, Aun land-owning family, represented by High Chief Omotayo Akeredolu, Ikasi land-owning family, represented by Chief Koya Olaseinde and other land-owning families in Ona, Otun and Osi Quarters in Odo Oro Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area of the state.
They accused the company said to be situated at No 106, Ajilosun, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, of encroachment on their community land lying between Oko Aun and Oko Ikasi all in Igboroko farmland, along Itapaji Ekiti Road, Odo Oro Ekiti.
According to the community”, from time immemorial, we are the lawful and bona fide owner of a large expanse of land lying and being at Aun farmland at Ugboroko and Ikasi Farmland at Ugbo Olookoju and Ologobamba all in Odo Oro Ekiti. Sometimes in February/March 2023, some unknown individuals were seen on Ilise Royal Family land, near Mosalasi Camp, Odo Oro Ekiti, with plough machines, clearing some portions of land”.
They said when challenged, the ‘strangers’ identified themselves as members of staff of Agbeyewa Farms Ltd, and claimed that they thought the land belonged to Ipao Ekiti with whom they had agreement on land transaction, They apologised for their act of trespass and immediately vacated the land.
But soon thereafter, the same people were seen on another land; this time on a portion of land that belongs to Ikasi Street, Ugbo Olookoju, Odo Oro Ekiti, and when accosted again, they gave the same excuse as in Ilise Royal Family land.
Subsequently, “they were found clearing Aun family land, Ugboroko, Odo Oro Ekiti. In all the instances cited above, various economic trees ranging from cocoa, oranges, cashew trees, Iroko trees, etc. were wantonly destroyed by the invaders before they were stopped by the Odo Oro Ekiti people. This was the position until our client alongside other neighbouring communities of Ipao Ekiti, Itapaji Ekiti and Esun Ekiti were invited to a meeting with the former Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi on this issue”.
It was said that a meeting to this effect held at the at the governor’s conference room was presided over by former Governor Kayode Fayemi with the then Commissioner for Agriculture, other government officials, management of Agbeyewa Farms,other stakeholders and representatives of the communities led by their traditional rulers. “At that meeting, the then Commissioner for Agriculture, one Prince Olabode categorically informed the gathering that Odo Oro-Ekiti community land was not included in the land allocated to Agbeyewa Farms by the Ekiti State Government, and therefore any person or group of persons interested in Odo Oro Ekiti land should find a way to dialogue with the community on such issues”.
The community pointed out that at this juncture, Agbeyewa Farms soft-pedalled, until sometime in February 2023 when the company resumed the destruction of their farmland. “On Saturday 1st July, 2023, the Chairman of Agbeyewa Farms, Mr. John Olajide and his team, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Ekiti State and other government officials accompanied by the Obaleo of Erinmope were in Odo Oro Ekiti, where they met with the Onise of Odo Oro Ekiti and the stakeholders in the community. It was at this meeting that Agbeyewa Farms formally made a request for 20 acres of land at a portion of Odo Oro-Ekiti land close to Odo Oro / Itapaji for the establishment of a cassava processing industry which they claimed was to benefit the community tremendously.
Their solicitor in his presentation explained that,”our client acceded to this request and Agbeyewa Farms officials and other government officials present at that meeting alongside some chiefs within the community, went on an inspection of Odo Oro Ekiti land close to the main road. It was during this inspection tour that the Agbeyewa Farms officials identified the area suitable for their purpose and the place was instantly measured and mapped out for them (about 20 acres of land). The names of the landowners were thereafter compiled with a promise by Agbeyewa Farms and officials of Ministry of Agriculture and Food security that adequate compensation shall be paid”.
He deposed that Agbeyewa Farm was to later abandon that area mapped out for them, and brazenly embarked on clearing a different location miles away from the allotted portions without any consultation with any person. According to the legal practitioner,the level of destruction of cash and economic crops is so high that the youths threatened going up in arms, but the traditional ruler of Odo-Oro appealed for calm.
Asked to assess the level of the acreage of land, and quantity of crops affected by the destruction and monetary implications, Barrister Adewunmi said such could not be easily quantified.
Meanwhile, while reacting, the Director of Corporate Communications and Engagement, Agbeyewa Farms Limited, Alhaji Dauda Lawal (ADL), described the claims as unfounded and misdirected.
According to him, “The 5,000 hectares of land allocated to us by the Ekiti State government, spanning Ipao, Esun, Odo-Oro, and Itapaji communities, was obtained legally and through due process.
“All monetary payments for the land were made directly to the government accounts, as required by the law, and CofO was given to us by the state government. We did not engage in any under-the-table transactions or sign any agreements with individuals or groups outside of the official government channels.
” We’d like to reiterate that we did not at any time sign any Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Odo-Oro or any community for compensation. What we were told during the discussions with the state government on the said land was that compensation would be handled by the state government to the affected communities.
” Our operations in Ekiti aim to cultivate, aggregate, process cassava, and provide employment opportunities for our people, which we have been doing for the past two years. Today, we have created over 1000 job opportunities both from within and outside of Ekiti State.
” We’ve consistently conducted our activities peacefully and engaged in corporate social responsibility initiatives within the communities where we operate and across the state. We would continue to engage our people for the benefit of their shared prosperity.
” We urge the Odo-Oro community to direct their concerns to the Ekiti State government, which allocated the 5,000 hectares of land to us and collected payment from us and issued us a CofO. We are law-abiding corporate entities with a focus on promoting sustainable agriculture, economic growth, and community development rather than perpetuating unfounded allegations”. Said he.