Aggrieved farmers and residents from several communities in Ondo East Local Government Area of Ondo State have appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene in a persistent land dispute that threatens peace and the livelihoods of local farmers.
The residents, representing about 10 communities in the council area, alleged that their farmlands were being forcefully taken over by individuals suspected to be land grabbers, acting without due process or government approval.
The appeal was made during a protest on Thursday at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Akure, the state capital. Armed with placards bearing messages such as “Killer gang! Land Grabbers Criminals Not King”, “Our Able Governor! Curb Tenants/Land Grabbers Excesses”, and “Rented Crowd Can’t Undo Family Inheritance With Verified Court Judgements”, the protesters decried the “illegal activities” of the encroachers, which they said have caused hardship and fear among farmers.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Mr. Idowu Akinmoladun stated that several court cases over the disputed land had been ruled in favor of the Ajisafe family. He alleged that Hon. Joseph Akinlaja, a former federal lawmaker, had been sponsoring the land grabbers.
“We are here to appeal to the governor to help us investigate this issue. They have stained the name of the Ajisafe family, and we are here to clear our name,” Akinmoladun said.
He added, “We’re not land grabbers. This land has a series of court judgments in our favor — four judgments in total. It is also false that Ojo Ajisafe is not a member of the family. We are law-abiding, and we want justice to prevail. We are appealing to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to allow the Ajisafe family to take rightful ownership of their land.”
Another protester, Mr. Ademola Ajibade, also called for the governor’s intervention, stressing that claims labeling Mr. Ojo Ajisafe as a land grabber were false.
Ajibade alleged that some traditional rulers involved in the dispute, including the Olu of Igba Community, Oba Sina Olayele, and the Olu of Uloko Agboden, Moses Awonusi Apalara, were self-proclaimed leaders who had been arrested and charged to court after allegedly attacking a farmer with a broken bottle.
To support this, Ajibade presented a letter dated June 27, 2023, from the Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bolani Obideyi, addressed to the Ondo East Local Government Chairman. The letter, titled “Alleged Installation of Olus by the Yangede of Epe”, instructed that the appointments of minor chiefs be halted to prevent breaches of peace in Ondo Kingdom.
The protesters also presented Chief Olu Faloye, Baale Agbondin, as the authentic traditional ruler of the community, with certification confirming his appointment and installation by the Paramount Ruler and Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom.
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