Abeokuta> By Sina ODUNTAN
Published, Tuesday, July 26, 2022
SAFE OGUN STATE GOVERNMENTquick intervention, Oke Ogun in Abeokuta North Local Government in Ogun State will soon implode into violence because an armed face off is presently brewing between two warring groups and an agro-company and its backers in the area.
The Yoruba, Beninese farmers and Fulani herdsmen are poised to defend their land, farms and gracing fields with the last pint of their blood. While Oba Olusegun Phillips, Olu of Olorunda, Oke Ogun, Abeokuta, vows that he would do everything to protect his people.
Pirarian Farming Company Limited, located at Tibo, Olorunda, Oke Ogun, Abeokuta North Local Government has told all small holding farmers occupying farmlands within 2000 hectares of land that the company claimes to own to vacate and remove all their crops in the areas within a month.
The company staff two weeks ago verbally spread the news of quit notice among the small holding farmers and the Fulani herdsmen, giving them four weeks to remove their crops and vacate their villages as the company has acquired the entire areas up to Ogun River.
If the company carries out its threat the indigenous and Beninese farmers in the areas will lose crops, on over 500 hectares of farmlands where cassava, maize, soya beans, groundnuts, tomatoes, peppers, melons, water melons, yam and others are grown, estimated to worth over N30m, and 5,000 cowheads will starve to death. Consequently, the supply of food will be scarce and expensive
When thedispatch visited the area last Thursday it observed that the company had begun to erect concrete pillars about 100metres to Ogun-Osun dam where it was learned that the company intends to plant water melon, and the area is presently occupied by more than 20 small holding farmers whose crops are at early stage of growth. It also observed that the company's bulldozer was stationed at the area.
The farmers who are mainly Beninese spoke to the paper through their leader, Mr. Emile Tawes. He narrated how he settled at Remi village among many other villages that had been deserted and desolated 20 years ago. He met one Baale Bashiru who allocated a large parcel of farmland to him, where the company has begun to erect concrete pillars and metal poles.
Emile Tawes, who has planted about 20 hectares of yam, cassava, soya beans, tomato, maize and other grocery, said he later brought two of his siblings, Ferdinand and Boniface Tawes who have also planted 50 hectares and 30 hectares of crops respectively. Since then many of his compatriots had joined him in the areas.
Other early Beninese settlers are Theophile Adafo who has cultivated more than 20 hectares of farmland this season, Noep Sotiquoia, 25 hectares, Michael L’hatcha, 35 hectares, Janvier Tawes, 10 hectares, and Suru Mathias, 15 hectares.
Still others are Neka Esai who also planted different types of food crops on 12 hectares of farmland, Constant Ayihonou, 15 hectares, Paschal Awato, 13 hectares, Ebel Namonta, 40 hectares and others.
Emile Tawes said they were annually paying royalties to Baale Bashiru who subsequently distributed the royalties to all the owners of the farmlands which they cultivated. Till Baale Bashiru of Remi village died about six years ago, they had no problems with their host communities.
After the death of Baale Bashiru, the next senior Baale of Adeife village took over since five years ago. Baale Muse received their royalties annually and distributed to all the farmland owners without any problem.
According to the first Beninese settler, Emile some representatives of Riparian Farming Company Limited, which began its farming business about six years ago just came to the Beinese farmers and Fulani herdsmen communities two Tuesdays ago to inform them that they have four weeks to remove their crops from their farms and vacate the villages.
He further explained that the company's people came with construction workers who immediately began to construct beams on his farms. He pointed at other metal poles that were erected all over the farmlands, adding that the bulldozer was brought the following day and stationed there since the last two weeks.
He added that they heard no inkling that the land has been sold to the company by their landlords or anybody. He said government has not disturbed their farming activities since they have been cultivating the farms since 20years ago in the area.
He told thedispatch that the company's representatives boasted they had bought 2,000 hectares of land up to Ogun River, and that the company would want to plant water melon along the Ogun-Osun dam nearby, adding that when the dam water is released it covers the entire area which makes it good for water melon and other vegetables.
Oba Olusegun Phillips, Olu of Olorunda, in his reaction said the action of the company, Riparian Farming Company Limited, was short of discretion, adding that it calls for trouble because its wrong to jump into people’s land and start to issue quit notice to people who are not its tenants. He said the company had no right over the land.
He told thedispatch that he had had meetings, last Thursday, July 23, 2022, with the farmers whose crops were marked for destruction, and Baales of the areas affected by the company’s quit notice.
Olu of Olorunda said it was regrettable that the farming company has not had official contact with his palace since it came to his domain about six years ago until recently when two officials of the company approached him, unofficially. He said he did not know how the company acquired the land for its farming business despite the fact that its farm office is less than 200 metres to his palace in Olorunda, his domain.
Oba Phillips said the quit notice issued by the company could not work because there’s no evidence that the so called acquisition of his people’s lands has been properly acquired and whatever the company had been doing was shrouded in secrecy.
He frowned at the rumour that Omala of Imala, Oba Moses Adelani Olabode was behind the sales of the lands belonging to his subjects without their knowledge and consent.
He pointed out that though he was not surprised at the rumoured role of Omala of Imala, Oba Adelani Olabode, who has been stoking the amber of "tribalism" since 2005 when he was installed, He said Omala of Imala has been promoting division and allegedly engaging in land grabbing, promising to sell off all the Egba land in Oke Ogun area of Abeokuta North.
He said Oba Olabode, Omala of Imala has a popular saying, "Omala, a r'owo ra kekeke Egba." (Omala, he who has money to buy young Egba) and "Awa re f’Egba do" (We’re the one who settles the Egba).
Olu of Olorunda, Oba Olusegun Phillips further explained that while there’s Oke Ogun, there is also Isale Ogun in Abeokuta to show that Egba are not strangers in Oke Ogun, adding that Olorunda, an Egba town in Oke Ogun is the largest town in Oke Ogun area. “It is bigger than Imala. It is bigger than Isaga, Ilewo, and Ibara. Out of about 20 villages within my domain only three villages belong to Yewa people.”
He said the Omala of Imala has done everything possible to obliterate Egba’s presence in Oke Ogun and in conniver with one Ayo Bada, who was said to have retired from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ogun State. He said it was Bada who's speculating that Ogun State has acquired all their land, saying this was untrue.
“Omala of Imala has provoked us to take up arms against him. But as a Christian, I will continue to prevail on my people not to do anything untoward. There is limit to patience. We are sitting on the keg of gun powder here. The government must immediately intervene. Yewa people in Oke Ogun are just about 30 per cent of the population of Oke Ogun, the Egba are in majority.
“Omala of Imala is stoking violence. He is engaging in land grabbing, selling our land. I have told the representative of Riparian Farming Company Limited that they have no right to drive away my people from their land without compensation. They have no right to ask the farmers to remove their crops before harvest from their farms.
“I will use everything to protect the Egba in Oke Ogun. The State government should call Omala of Imala, the company, and the said Bada to order. They should not do anything to cause trouble in his domain. My people are peace-loving.
“There will be nothing left for my people if the company is allowed to take the land of my people and destroyed the crops of the farmers. This is the middle of planting season. The tenant farmers have invested heavily by planting many crops, some of which are still in their early stage of growth," Olu of Olorunda posited.
He said already kidnapping is rampant in the area. It was his personal efforts that reduced the rate of kidnapping in Oke Ogun area by bringing the police that was almost made impossible until the former governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun personally intervened. He facilitated Nigerian Security and Civil Defence, and So-Safe to Olorunda to the area. He spoke of how Omala of Imala frustrated the efforts to bring the Nigeria Army post to the area after he had provided all the requirements requested by the Nigerian Army. He added that majority of Imala Chiefs wass not supporting Omala’s divisible policy.
He said the Fulani herdsmen who are also affected by the purported quit notice would not be patient like the Yoruba and Beninese in the area.
The Fulani leader has promised to resist any attempt to dislocate them from the area. Thedispatch counted six Fulani settlements within the area covered by the quit notice issued by the company.
Oba Phillips said the small holding farmers and the Fulani herdsmen in the area are not the company’s tenants, therefore, the company is not in the position to send away his people from their ancestral land.
He enjoined the company to approach the right owners of the land if it still desirous of acquiring more land for its agro-gbusiness
Baale Muse, the most senior of the traditional leaders of over 20 villages told thedispatch that he and other Baales whose villages and farmlands fell under the said acquisition by the company have not sold their villages and land to the company. He further said some time ago they saw an helicopter hovering over their areas and farms. He said they were told that the company was doing area mapping with the helicopter.
He said they learned that some people were gathered together to thumbprint and were given some money. “All of us who are the owners of the villages, whether still existing and deserted were not part of the deal. I am not aware of such payment as I did not sell any land to the company and did not collect any money from anybody. Nobody can take our ancestral land and villages, he insists.”
Baale Muse further informed thedispatch, virtually, that Oba Adelani Moses Olabode, Omala of Imala was allegedly claiming that the entire Oke Ogun in Abeokuta North Local Government area of Ogun State belongs to him. Baale Muse vehemently refuted the claim, saying the people of Adeife village and other 16 villages are Egba communities and neither is Imalan nor Yewa. He said he had held meetings with the indigenes of Adeife village and they had decided to mark their own portions of the entire areas belonging to the people of Adeife village. We have mobilised all our people in the military and other governmental establishments. We are ready to defend our ancestral land and village. Nobody can take our land without our consent, Baale Muse said firmly.
Oba Olusegun Phillips, Olu of Olorunda, in his reaction said the action of the company, Riparian Farming Company Limited, was short of discretion, adding that it calls for trouble because its wrong to jump into people’s land and start to issue quit notice to people who are not its tenants. He said the company had no right over the land. He told thedispatch that he had had meetings, last Thursday, July 23, 2022, with the farmers whose crops were marked for destruction, and Baales of the areas affected by the company’s quit notice.
Olu of Olorunda said it was regrettable that the farming company has not had official contact with his palace since it came to his domain about six years ago until recently, when two officials of the company approached me, unofficially. He said he did not know how the company acquired the land for its farming business despite the fact that its farm office is less than 200 metres to his palace in Olorunda, his domain.
Oba Phillips said the quit notice issued by the company could not work because there’s no evidence that the so called acquisition of my people’s lands has been properly acquired and whatever the company has been doing is shrouded in secrecy.
He frowned at the rumour that Omala of Imala, Oba Moses Adelani Olabode was behind the sales of the lands belonging to his subjects without their knowledge.
He pointed out that though he was not surprised at the rumoured role of Omala of Imala, Oba Adelani Olabode, who has been stoking the amber of tribalism since 2005 when he was installed, He said Omala of Imala has been promoting division and allegedly engaging in land grabbing, promising to sell off all the Egba land in Oke Ogun area of Abeokuta North.
He said Oba Olabode, Omala of Imala has a popular saying, Omala, a r'owo ra kekeke Egba (Omala, he who has money to buy young Egba) and Awa re f’Egba do (We’re the one who settles the Egba).
Olu of Olorunda, Oba Olusegun Phillips further explained that while there’s Oke Ogun, there is also Isale Ogun in Abeokuta to show that Egba are not strangers in Oke Ogun, adding that Olorunda, an Egba town in Oke Ogun is the largest town in Oke Ogun area. “It is bigger than Imala. It is bigger than Isaga, Ilewo, and Ibara. Out of about 20 villages within my domain only three villages belong to Yewa people.”
He said the Omala of Imala has done everything possible to obliterate Egba’s presence in Oke Ogun and in conniver with one Bada, who was said to have retired from the Ministry of Land and Housing, Ogun State. He said it was this Bada who engages in speculation that Ogun State has acquired all their land, saying this was untrue.
“Omala of Imala has provoked us to take up arms against him. But as a Christian, I will continue to prevail on my people not to do anything untoward. There is limit to patience. We are sitting on the keg of gun powder here. The government must immediately intervene. Yewa people in Oke Ogun are just about 30 per cent of the population of Oke Ogun, the Egba are in majority.
“Omala of Imala is stoking violence. He is engaging in land grabbing, selling our land. I have told the representative of Riparian Farming Company eLimited that they have no right to drive away my people from their land without compensation. They have no right to ask the farmers to remove their crops before harvest from their farms.
“I will use everything to protect the Egba in Oke Ogun. The State government should call Omala of Imala, the company, and the said Bada to order. They should not do anything to cause trouble in his domain. My people are peace-loving.
“There will be nothing left for my people if the company is allowed to take the land of my people and destroyed the crops of the farmers. This is the middle of planting season. The tenant farmers have invested heavily by planting many crops, some of which are still in their early stage growth, Olu of Olorunda posited.
He said already kidnapping is rampant in the area. It was his personal efforts that reduced the rate of kidnapping in Oke Ogun area by bringing the police that was made impossible until the former governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun personally intervened, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence, and So-Safe to Olorunda. He spoke of how Omala of Imala frustrated the effort to bring the Army post to the area after he had provided all the requirements requested by the Nigerian Army. He added that majority of Imala Chiefs is not supporting Omala’s divisible policy.
He said the Fulani herdsmen who are also affected by the purported quit notice would not be patient like the Yoruba and Beninese in the area. The Fulani leader has promised to resist any attempt to dislocate them from the area. Thedispatch counted six Fulani settlements within the area covered by the quit notice issued by the company.
Oba Phillips said the small holding farmers in the area and the Fulani herdsmen in the area are not the company’s tenants, therefore, the company is not in the position to send away his people from their ancestral land.
He enjoined the company to approach the right owners of the land if it still desirous of acquiring more land for its agribusiness.
When Oba Moses Adelani Olabode, Omala of Imala was visited at his palace at Imala he was not available. Thedispatch eventually got him on phone after many unanswered calls. He informed thedispatch that he would not be available until September. When virtual interview was requested the Omala of Imala declined and said he was busy and would not be talking to the press until September when he would have returned to his domain.
The website of the farming company, Riparian Farming Company Limited, was temporary unavailable. The company was incorporated in 2013 with its registered address at 1, Mekuwen Road, Off Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos. Its registration number is RC1162544, and its Directors are Arm Trustee Limited, Mohammed Sadiq and Ogundare Jumoke.
The executive director and managing director of the company are Theo Onawale and Ms. Uche Azubuike respectively. The woman is said to be the one managing the farm at Olorunda after the retirement of the Southern African director, simply called Church.
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