The women of the Odo-Oro community in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Monday protested over the alleged destruction of their farmlands by an agric firm operating in the area.
Scores of the aggrieved women of Odo-Oro community, topped out and marched around the town with placards with different inscriptions to express their grievances against Agbeyewa Farms.
They appealed to President Bola Tinubu, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Senator Cyril Fasuyi, and other leaders to prevail on Agbeyewa Farms not to destroy their farmland lands which is the only source of their livelihood.
Speaking on behalf of the protesting women, the Eyelobinrin Ara of Odooro kingdom, Chief (Mrs) Adebomola Ogunsakin said, “They are destroying our lands, they are cutting down our cocoa farms, cutting down our palm trees and destroying what is left of what our forefathers gave to us.
“They are uprooting the economic trees, destroying whatever was left for us for our forefathers if this inhumanity should continue what do they want us to survive on.”
Receiving the protesters in his palace, the Onise of Odo-Oro, Oba Babatunde Jemilehin, said the community would not allow the forceful takeover of their lands by groups or companies without necessary discussions.
While saying the community is not against any form of investment for economic growth, the monarch denied insinuations that the protest was organized to tarnish the image of the company.
Oba Jemilehin said, “I don’t understand this kind of investment, which is poised to make people’s livelihood and ancestral heritage disappear. I am sure this cannot be the intention of the state government because if they want to create food security, they are actually doing the opposite, which is food insecurity.
“I am surprised that these people are still audaciously carrying out the destruction of my people’s farmlands despite our daily cries to the government to save us from these heartless people called Agbeyewa.
“My people have spoken and i stand with them and our decision is that we will not continue to tolerate this injustice and inhumane behaviour from anybody.”
But the founder of Agbeyewa farms, a subsidiary of Cavista holdings, John Olajide, urged the community to make itself available for talk and to share their concerns, saying that any responsible investors would carry the community along to ensure everybody wins.
Olajide said he is only interested in changing the economic narratives of the state with his investment for employment opportunities and achieving food security.
Olajide said, ” The history might be the issue because some people who claimed to be investors have come here to take advantage of communities in the past. So, we understand some of the anxiety and fears some communities have but when you have genuine investors that are well known and referenced by the government, it is important that the community partner with them.
“If there are any areas of misunderstanding, it is natural that there will be conflict from time to time. They should sit, talk, and share their concerns, and any responsible investors will carry the community along to ensure everybody wins.
“At Cavista Holdings and Agbeyewa farms, we are about winning for the community, government, and for everybody. To create jobs, and create jobs and also create jobs, that is our aim.”
