Indigenes of Ogbomoso in Oyo State, under the platform of Egbe Omo Ogbomoso Parapo, have petitioned Governor Seyi Makinde over an alleged plan by the state government to allocate the Ogbomoso Farm Settlement to private investors and property developers.
The group rejected the alleged plan, describing the farm settlement as a major part of Ogbomoso’s heritage and an important source of livelihood for residents who have depended on the land for generations.
The petition was signed by the Chairman of Egbe Omo Ogbomoso Parapo, Home Headquarters, Prince Aderemi Olude, and the Secretary, Johnson Adekunle.
Copies of the petition were also forwarded 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, Police Area Commander in Ogbomoso and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Olaoye.
The association urged the Oyo State Government to revitalise the farm settlement rather than allocate the land to property developers.
According to the group, the land was originally designated as a farm settlement in the early 1960s and has supported generations of residents.
The indigenes said the proposed allocation, if carried out, would amount to the destruction of an important agricultural legacy associated with former Premiers of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Samuel Akintola.
They described the settlement as a “commonwealth” belonging to the people and a major means of livelihood in the ancient city.
The group said its investigations had indicated that the matter had moved beyond speculation after farm settlers allegedly confirmed that they had experienced activities suggesting preparations for a possible allocation.
“Our investigations have revealed that the matter is now beyond unfounded rumour because those directly affected, that is, the farm settlers, confirmed the report based on their recent experience,” the petition stated.
The association claimed that some settlers had spent more than 60 years on the land and strongly opposed any move to hand it over to private investors.
“We want to inform your Excellency that the settlers, many of who had spent over sixty years on the land, are fiercely opposed to the plan, ditto the generality of the people of Ogbomoso and beyond,” it added.
The group further alleged that surveyors working for the state government had begun making incursions into the farm settlement.
“Surveyors from the State Government we learnt have been making incursions into the land,” the petition stated.
The indigenes described the alleged move as a disregard for the historical importance of the settlement and called on the governor to intervene.
They argued that the farm settlement should be protected and developed as an agricultural asset rather than converted for private real estate development.
“The farm settlement is a commonwealth, our livelihood, which has sustained generations. We therefore on behalf of the vast majority of the people of Ogbomoso declare that we reject this move in its entirety.”
The group’s position places renewed attention on the future of the Ogbomoso Farm Settlement and the alleged plans concerning the land.
The Ogbomoso indigenes are now calling on the Oyo State Government to preserve the agricultural settlement and engage stakeholders before taking any decision concerning the property.
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