The Ondo State Government has dismissed allegations from cocoa farmers in Odigbo Local Government Area who claimed their farmland in the Oluwa Forest Reserve was sold to a private company, leading to the destruction of their plantations.
Recall that News Round The Clock reports that on Sunday, a group of farmers in the affected area staged a protest, accusing SAO Agro-Allied Services Limited and the state government of unlawfully taking over their farmland and disrupting their means of livelihood.
The farmers alleged that the operation was being carried out under the directive of the former CEO of SAO Agro-Allied Services Limited, Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, who currently serves as the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture.
In response, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Mr. Ebenezer Adeniyan, issued a statement on Wednesday refuting the claims.
He stated that Sotinrin had no involvement in the land acquisition by the firm in question.
“It is important to clarify that Mr Ayo Sotinrin is the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, a Federal Government institution. Allegations implying that he is using a private firm to seize farmlands are malicious, unfounded, and a clear attempt at character assassination.
“SAO Agro-Allied Services, on its part, has been operating under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement approved by the state since 2021. The firm’s acquisition and development of agro-industrial zones have followed due process and are under full government oversight. None of its activities involves the unlawful takeover of legally secured farms.”
The government’s statement further pointed out that some of the protesting farmers had violated terms of land use and had encroached beyond their allocated spaces in the forest reserve.
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“Many of the aggrieved farmers currently occupying parts of the Oluwa Forest Reserve (OA3A) have breached existing agreements and exceeded designated land allocation parameters. Some have encroached on restricted forest zones without authorisation, while others have failed to comply with the agreed land use terms, posing serious environmental and security concerns.
“Contrary to the claims of contempt for court injunctions, the Ondo State Government and all related agencies; public and private, have acted strictly within the framework of the law. Where litigations are ongoing, every step taken has been guided by legal counsel, verified surveys, and documented notifications. No action has been taken arbitrarily.”
The government also dismissed claims linking the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agribusiness, Rotimi Akinsola, to any alleged land grabbing.
“Akinsola is a government appointee overseeing agribusiness in the state. His role involves the strategic management of large-scale commercial agriculture investors granted concessions to develop extensive hectares of land, an effort that is expected to create thousands of jobs and boost the state’s revenue. Claims suggesting that he is involved in land grabbing are not only false but politically driven and completely at variance with the facts,” the statement read.
While assuring stakeholders of the administration’s willingness to engage in dialogue, the government emphasized its commitment to legal processes, environmental sustainability, and the protection of livelihoods.
“This administration remains committed to transparency, environmental sustainability, and the growth of agriculture as the backbone of the state’s economy,” it stressed.
