Anarchy Looms As Ekiti Community, 20 Families Disagree Over Land For New Varsity

Anarchy looms in Ekiti State over hectares of land allocated for the permanent site of the newly approved Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences in the community as the traditional council of Iyin Ekiti, the Oluyin-in-Council and about 20 families in the town have disagreed over the forceful acquisition.

The families who had staged a protest against alleged forceful acquisition of 240 hectares of their land for the university, accused the traditional ruler of the community, Oba Adeola Ajakaiye and other prominent community leaders of colluding to dispossess them of their ancestral land.

But Oba Ajakaye described the land grabbing allegations levelled against his throne, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and others as false and malicious.

Oluyin also described the claim as a cheap propaganda aimed at distracting and sabotaging the citing of the university in the town.

Rising from an urgent meeting called on the matter held at the Oba’s palace, the Oluyin-In-Council frowned at the unverified reports in circulation regarding the land acquired for the permanent site of the new institution.

The Iyin Ekiti traditional institution berated the role played by some individuals regarding the negative reports as well as the unnecessary protests they led against the Iyin Ekiti community.

Earlier in his address, the head of Okelawe Quarters, High Chief Olubobokun Ibikunle assured that those currently fomenting trouble in the town, and whose farmlands have been acquired for the university, would soon be compensated.

Also, the representatives of the Awolu, Ajana and the Elemo families whose land were also acquired, cautioned those instigating unrest against further tarnishing of their family image and the community as resolutions had been reached which are known to Chief Ganiyu Badmus, the Adamo of Okelawe Quarters.

Meanwhile, the Okelawe community, in a joint press release, signed and made available to newsmen, distanced themselves from any further action against the town on the matter.

In a statement, the Oluyin palace explained that efforts have been made to amicably resolve the issues through dialogue for more than six consecutive times.

It reminded the parties in the matter of the need to come up with the worth of the crops planted on the land to ascertain the cost implications for compensation that would be paid to the land and farm owners.

“We encourage all noble sons and daughters of Iyin Ekiti to please seek the facts, verify and propagate across all platforms. Let us save the University of Technology and Environmental Sciences from interests that do not align with the development of our community.” the statement concluded.