The Ekiti State Government has issued a warning to landowners in the state to stop the arbitrary selling of farmlands, citing that this practice is triggering violence in many communities.
The warning was given by the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, while mediating in a land dispute between Eda Oniyo in Ilejemeje Local Government and Isan Ekiti in Oye Council Area.
The dispute began when landowners from Ilale Quarters in Isan Ekiti accused the people of Ilije and Eda Odo in Eda Oniyo Ekiti of encroaching into their lands at Igbo-Ero farmstead.
Afuye directed the Ekiti State Boundary Technical Committee to visit the disputed land and conduct proper demarcation to help broker a truce.
Afuye emphasized that the indiscriminate selling of lands by farmers and landowners from the two towns was the main cause of the problem.
“It is sad that those who couldn’t see into the future were the root cause of this problem.
“I could see evidence here that the owners of lands in that area were indulging in selling of lands, which caused this encroachment,” she said.
She advised the communities to desist from arbitrary selling of farmlands, stating that this habit is happening in virtually all towns in the state.
She said, “I want to advise that all this must stop. If your ancestors had behaved in this manner, you shouldn’t have been able to inherit the lands you are now quarrelling over today. You have to desist from this habit, it is happening in virtually all our towns” Afuye added.
Afuye commended the two traditional rulers for preventing violence and announced that the Boundary Technical Committee will visit the area to conduct proper demarcation.
“But I want to commend the two traditional rulers for rising to the occasion and prevented violence. Our Boundary Technical Committee will visit the area to do proper demarcation, so that you can know your actual boundary”, she said.
The Onisan of Isan Ekiti, Oba Ayodele Adejuwon, alleged that arbitrary selling of lands by Eda Oniyo was the cause of the acrimony in the area. He lamented that some of the lands belonging to his people had been sold off by Eda Oniyo farmers, forcing them to move to other areas due to the scarcity of land.
In defense of Eda Oniyo, the Eleda of Eda Oniyo, Oba Julius Awolola, stated that evidence showed that Isan Ekiti farmers had been paying royalty to Eda Oniyo for the use of the land.
He added that the Government’s preparedness to demarcate the disputed lands and border area between the towns will help in reducing tension and restoring peace.
Source:: EKSG
