Ekiti airport: Displaced farmers protest unpaid compensation

Forum 10 months ago

Ekiti airport: Displaced farmers protest unpaid compensation

Aggrieved farmers whose farms were affected by the ongoing airport project along Ado-Ijan Road in Ekiti State protested on Monday over the non-payment of compensations allegedly promised to them by the state government.

The farmers, drawn from towns and villages including Igbemo, Orun, Afao, ijan, Igbogun, Bolorunduro, Iwajo, Aso and Ago Aduloju in Ado, Irepodun/Ifelodun and Gbonyin local government areas, took their protest to the Governors’ Office in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.

Among inscriptions on their placards are ‘Oyebanji, please save our lives,’ ‘our aged fathers and mothers are dying of starvation, save our lives, please pay our compensations,’ and ‘the airport project took our livelihood.’

The protesting farmers appealed to Governor Biodun Oyebanji to come to their aid and pay the compensations promised to them.

The Edemo of Igbemo, Awe Ojo, who spoke on behalf of the farmers, said, “Most of us have not been paid our entitlements. Very few of us received the money promised to us. Since then, the rest of us have been totally neglected.

“The former governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, promised to pay the remaining money, but unfortunately we do not know what happened to it before he left office.

“We are also here on behalf of those old men and women who could not join us today due to their failing health. It is not until they die that they should receive what is rightfully theirs. We know Governor Biodun Oyebanji to be a man with a kind heart and a listening person, that is why we are here today to appeal to him to please come to our aid.”

A top government official of the state Ministry of Land Housing and Urban Development, Mr Adedayo Olajide, while addressing the farmers, assured them that the governor was willing and ready to attend to their request.

Olajide, who told the farmers that no payment had been made to unauthorised persons, said the compensations would be paid by the state government as soon as possible.