Adebayo Adenrele
A peaceful protest has rocked Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, as indigenes and residents of Irona Community appealed to Governor Biodun Oyebanji to halt the alleged forced acquisition of their ancestral lands by the state government.
The community, comprises six streets namely: Mushin, Isato, Igbole, Oja-Upona, Isewewe and Ijiku said the acquisition and possible demolition of houses in the area could displace more than 200 families and destroy a community with more than a century of history.
Carrying placards with inscriptions including, “Our Land, Our Heritage, Our Future: Let It Not Be Taken Away,” the protesters called on the governor to adopt a coexistence model that would allow urban development without destroying ancestral homes and indigenous settlements.
Addressing journalists, the Oloro of Mushin, Chief Tope Areola said the community woke up one morning to find government signboards erected at strategic locations within the area, bearing inscriptions indicating that the land had been acquired by the government and warning members of the public to keep off.
Chief Areola raised a concern that the alleged acquisition was carried out without prior consultation or adequate notice to residents.
According to the him, Irona has existed as a settled community for more than 100 years, with some houses dating back several decades.
He said their objection was not against development or urban renewal, but against any development strategy that would displace indigenous residents and erase the historical character of the community.
His words, “This is a community that has existed for over 10 decades. In fact, I can’t tell when it started because I grew up here. Our house over there was built in 1950. There are other houses that have been here before 1950.
“So we’re living as a community. We have a bond. We are one. We have that affinity with the community, and that’s where we are going to live.
“Urban renewal and development are noble goals, but they must never come at the detriment of indigenous communities”.
A Community Leader, Kunle Oladele argued that urbanisation could be pursued without demolishing established indigenous settlements, citing parts of Lagos, Ibadan, Akure, Osogbo and Abeokuta as examples where traditional neighbourhoods had continued to exist alongside modern infrastructure.
The community leader said he was aware of the provisions of the Land Use Act of 1978 and the powers vested in state governors over land, but argued that such powers must be exercised in accordance with the law and for compelling public purposes.
He maintained that the government could legitimately acquire land where there was a clearly defined public need, such as the construction of roads, hospitals or other projects serving the wider population, but insisted that residents should be adequately informed and treated fairly.
According to the him, letters had been written to the state government, the Ekiti State House of Assembly and other stakeholders in a bid to resolve the matter through dialogue, alleging that government representatives had denied plans to take over the community despite the presence of the disputed signboards.
“Why then should Ado-Ekiti, the proud capital of our state, be different? Why should our heritage be sacrificed in the name of development?
“So what is the government telling you that it needs this place for?” one of the representatives asked, adding that the community had written to relevant authorities seeking clarification.
“They are saying that there is nothing like that, that they are not taking our land. But we saw the signposts. We have no idea what is there.
“When you send those people away, where will they go to? With one letter, one million naira, where will they go to?
“We are not against development. We welcome modernization. But we insist that development must be inclusive, respectful, and protective of the people who have nurtured this land for generations.
“We want the Governor to note that the defence of these homes is the first line of protection of the rights of the people you are elected to govern.
“Let us ensure that development uplifts, not impoverishes. Let us keep Ado-Ekiti whole. Our land, our heritage, our future – let it not be taken away.”
