Ekiti govt urges peace over acquisition of 55,000 hectares of land

EKITI State Government has appealed to communities protesting against alleged shoddy acquisition of 55,000 hectares of land designated as agricultural processing zone to eschew violence, saying the initiative was intended to enhance food security and create jobs in the state.

The government made the appeal, yesterday, while interfacing with angry land owners from Iyemero, Esun,

Odo- Oro, Itapaji, Ipao, OkeAyedun and Oke- Ako Ekiti, who are owners of the sprawling parcel of land acquired by government for the agricultural scheme.

The meeting with the aggrieved communities followed a letter from the Ekiti State Ministry of Agriculture over agitation expressed by the land owners in the donor communities.

The communities were led into the meeting by monarchs, including the Olu of

Itapaji, Oba Abdukareem Adebanjo, Alaaye of Oke Ayedun, Oba Olufemi Aribisala, Onise of Odo- Oro, Oba Babatunde Jemilehin, and Elesun of Esun, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin.

Others were the regent of Oke Ako Ekiti, Her Royal Highness Tinuade Adebayo, and the Chairman of Ajoni Local Council Development Area, Mr. Michael Ogungbemi.

The Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in her office, Abayomi Opeyemi, said the host communities in Ekiti North Senatorial District would enjoy speedy economic development if they allow the policy to thrive.

Afuye said the Ekiti State Technical Committee on Land Matters would visit the expansive land for boundary tracing, so that each of the six towns would know their boundaries.