Govt Denies Alleged Plan to Displace 50,000 Farmers in Ondo

Fidelis David in Akure

The Ondo State Government has denied allegation that it was planning to sell cocoa plantations and other farmlands belonging to 50,000 farmers in 20 villages in Ondo West Local Government Area of the State to foreign companies.

The denial came after the traditional ruler of Ilua, Oba Olalani Ibidapo led protesters from Ilua, Laoso, Adejori, Logunofe, Keseomi, Obadore, Obakele, Ilua 2, Kangidi, Oloruntedo, Abayemisi, Magbaralewon and other communities to register their displeasure over the alleged plan.

However, in a statement made available to journalists, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agric and Agric Business, Akin Olotu said the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu led-administration was not out to punish anybody, but to make things better, stressing that it was not displacing villagers particularly those occupying free areas in the state.

“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 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.

“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 jeopardised, 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”, Olotu said.