The Egbe Omo Ogbomoso Parapo (Home Headquarters), the umbrella body of socio-cultural organisations in Ogbomosoland, has kicked against an alleged plan by the Oyo State Government to allocate portions of the Ogbomoso Farm Settlement (Agric) to private investors and developers.
The group, in a letter addressed to the Oyo State Government and signed by its Chairman, Prince Aderemi Oluwasegunfunmi Al Farouk Olude, and Secretary, Mr. Johnson Adekunle, described the alleged move as unacceptable and warned that it could trigger a major crisis if not urgently addressed.
According to the group, the controversy is no longer based on mere rumours, as farm settlers allegedly affected by the development had confirmed that surveyors from the state government had begun making incursions into the land.
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The organisation said many of the settlers had spent more than 60 years on the land and strongly opposed any attempt to displace them.
It explained that the Ogbomoso Farm Settlement was established in the early 1960s for crop and livestock production after government acquired about 1,602 hectares of land, with compensation reportedly paid to the original landowners.
The group said the settlement had sustained generations of farmers and was part of the agricultural legacy associated with the development vision of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola.
It, however, raised concerns over alleged encroachment on the farm settlement by the Onpetu, noting that the matter had previously been reported to relevant authorities.
The group also recalled that a portion of the land known as the Old Farm School had been the subject of litigation, with the Supreme Court reportedly awarding the Onpetu 45 per cent of the Old Farm School.
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While stressing that its objection was not against investment or development, the community body urged the state government to consider revitalising the farm settlement instead of allocating it to private investors.
It proposed the retraining of farmers, establishment of cattle ranches, development of modern mechanised farms, agricultural institutes and agro-allied industries, including cashew and mango processing factories.
The organisation argued that such initiatives would create employment, increase agricultural production and generate greater value for Ogbomoso and the state.
“Rather than turn over the place to the so-called investors, why isn’t it revitalized?” the group asked, stressing that many people still actively farm on the land.
It warned that evicting the settlers from the farm settlement could amount to destroying a valuable heritage that had served generations.
The group further urged Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene and prevent what it described as a potentially contentious development, stressing that there were other locations that could be considered for investors rather than lands already occupied by farmers.
“We therefore on behalf of the vast majority of the people of Ogbomoso declare that we reject this move in its entirety,” the letter stated.
The organisation appealed to the governor to consider its concerns and help prevent a crisis, while reaffirming its support for his administration and his preferred candidates in the forthcoming general elections.
Copies of the letter were sent to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Federal Ministry of Lands and Urban Development, Inspector-General of Police, Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Area Commander, Ogbomoso, and the Soun of Ogbomosoland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III.
