•It’s the people versus govt officials

By Bose Adelaja

Among the Egbas, Igbein, in Obafemi Owode Local Government of  Ogun State, constitutes about 300 towns and villages, and renowned for  food production. For instance, the  farm produce known as Ofada rice is produced in Ofada town in Igbein. Also, the peaceful co-existence in these communities has made them attractive to  notable companies, schools and religious organisations  as many of them now operate in Igbein  along on Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The Igbeins also play host to the seat of power vis-a-vis the  Government  House at Isale-Igbein and Governor’s Office at Oke-Mosan. In spite of  their benevolence to their father land,  however, the  Igbeins  have nothing to show for  it.

What they get  is neglect and marginalisation as  government  has  turned deaf ears to their plight.

Worse still, unscrupulous elements in government have been feeding fat on their  land, no thanks to illegal business activities that  found its roots in Igbein land.

At Mokoloki, Ibafo, Mowe and several other communities in Igbein, indegenes  said about  two kilometres of land in each of the communities  was  taken over by the immediate past government without  compensation.

When  Sunday Vanguard  visited the communities, some residents complained that part of the acquired land has been converted to private use by   government functionaries. Also, a good portion of the land  is sold to  private companies at exorbitant prices.

At Iboku-Aro village, Arepo, Aseese, Mowe, Ibafo, Someke, Pakuro, Orimu-Erumu, Mokoloki,  and Ofada, the indegenes alleged that  the past government  only paid  N30,000 per hactare of land after which  the  land  was  shared among top government functionaries.

Baales of Ereko-Ibafo and Atogun, Chief Nurudeen Agbedi and Alhaji Abdurafiu Opere, said community  leaders had made attempts  to register their plight with the state government but  the efforts  always met a  brickwall.

At Mokoloki, residents complained that a good portion of their land had been allocated to Ogun/Oshun River Basin Development Authority without effort to develop the  land. Also, some residents of Ogere said indiscriminate parking of trailers on the expressway  constitutes hazards to them and motorists plying Lagos-Ibadan expressway. While  efforts  to check those behind the action  have always incured the wrath of   Ogun  government as they later discovered that some of the trailers are owned by some top government functionaries.

Baale of Iboku-Aro, who doubles as General Baale of Igbein land, Chief Olu Kayode Lisoyi, confirmed the development, saying the communities did not sign any pact with the state government before the acquisition was made.’’When  government took over our land, we were happy that such a step would aid development but many of us are shedding tears as a result of what the government has done to us. The government has benefited from Igbein without reciprocating our good gesture. I remember about four years ago when we saw some strange faces pegging a piece of land. When confronted, they said they represented a company which had  bought the piece of land from government.

‘’However, we stopped the work and asked them to follow due process. To our surprise, a team of law enforcement agents stormed the village and arrested the indigenes on the basis that the land had been taken over by  government.

“According to the Land Use Act, acquisition  of land should be  in public interest and compensation made to the owners but government and their agents have set up their private businesses on the land. Help tell the government that incessant land acquisition should stop,’’ he said.

‘’Four years ago, we spoke with Balogun of Egba land and the Alake, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, about the issue and they promised to contact the appropriate authorities. But, up  till now, nothing has been done.’’

Other demands  of the Igbeins include construction of good roads in the areas and  pedestrian bridges over Lagos – Ibadan expressway that passes through the communities.

“Ibafo, Arepo, Aseese, Loguro and Pakuro have remained a danger zone due to absence of pedestrian bridges. Also, creation of more local governments and upgrading of some traditional rulers of the communities  are necessary. In Ogun State, Obafemi/Owode and Ifo local governments are the largest. No matter the effort of the chairmen, they cannot reach all the communities because of the size,’’ Lisoyi said.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s spokesperson,  Funmi Nwakama, could not be reached at press time.