By Kayode Ogunbunmi
Hundreds of cocoa farms across 24 communities in Ondo West Local Government Area of the Ondo State have continued their long protest of the forceful take-over of their farmlands by the State Government.
The farmlands, located at a newly opened section of a forest reserve, were reportedly leased to a foreign-owned firm.
The farmers blocked the strategic Benin-Ore highway to stage their protest, carrying several postcars. They listed some of the affected communities and farm camps to include Aosho, Ulugba, Adejori, Kabiyesi, Lafa, Oloruntedo, Obadore Yinka, Keseomi, Lomofe, Gbekelu, Langbodo, , Abuja, Lopaun , Sahara , Aba Cocoa, Topeu, Bolorunduro , Iyolope and Yemisi.
Inscriptions on some of the placards read in parts: “No Farmers, no Nation”; “We are not slaves”; “Don’t turn us to kidnappers and bandits”; “Let the farmers breathe” and “We are farmers, not terrorists,” among others.
The protesters, who said they are into cultivation of cocoa, palm oil, cashew and other cash crops, said it was inhumane for the State Government to hijack their source of livelihood from them after they have toiled for years to tame the forest and nurture their crops to the point where they have started bearing fruits.
A former Secretary of the Ondo West Local Council, Alhaji Oluwole Bashiru, who spoke on behalf of the protesters, begged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to correct the wrongs perpetrated by his predecessor.
Bashiru said: “We have been there for many years. We have no issue with government so, why this? If they want us to pay money we will pay. We have maternity centre, public primary and secondary schools . If these facilities and our farmlands are destroyed, what will be our fate?,” he said.
Youth Leader in one of the farm settlements, Mr Phillip Akinbamijo, said they have been seeing strange persons in the affected communities, claiming to be working for a Chinese company meant to clear the farmlands.
He said: “The past government has already stolen our land and sold it to Chinese and recently they have started pursuing us from the land. We have n where to go and eat if we are taken away .
“We are beginning the Governor to reconsider us and give us back the land. We are ready to give back whatever money the government has taken from the Chinese company,” he stated.
The farmers also took their protest to the palace of the local traditional ruler, the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo, who praised the farmers for carrying out a peaceful protest and asked them to document their grievances and attach pictorial evidence for proper action to be taken.
The protest is ongoing as another group of the affected farmers appear to have reached an agreement with the firm concessioned by the state government to operate the land.
The management of Sao Agro-Allied Services Limited, said it has reached an agreement with farmers operating in the Oluwa Forest reserve in Ajue community, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State and both sides have agreed to work together for mutual benefit.
The state government had allocated the Oluwa Forest reserve to Sao to cultivate oil palm as part of its red gold revolution under the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. But a majority of the farmers operating in the forest reserve protested and took the agro-processing firm to court.
Farmers in the Ajue axis of the forest reserve however said they were not part of the suit. This group consists of farmers from Abana, Olorunsogo, Tale, Tiamiyi and Orore camps inside the forest.
Baale of the Olorunsogo camp, Sunday Abidolu, said his community was happy with the agreement with SAO, and hoped that the understanding would uplift their living standards.
He said: “We want our children to attend good schools in the forest. We need help to boost our farming. We are not fighting with anybody, and we have not taken anybody to court. We are working together.
