The tranquility of several communities in Ondo State, Nigeria, is teetering on the precipice of disruption, stemming from a decades-old land dispute. At the heart of the contention lies an alleged breach of a 1954 agreement between the communities of Okitipupa and Irele Local Government Areas, and a company operating extensive oil palm plantations on their ancestral lands. The Ikale Supreme Civil Right Council, acting as the voice of the aggrieved communities, has appealed to Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to intervene and avert a potential crisis. The Council contends that the company, despite reaping substantial financial gains from the land estimated to be in the billions of naira, has consistently failed to uphold its end of the bargain, leaving the communities marginalized and deprived of the benefits promised decades ago.
The crux of the dispute revolves around a 1954 agreement that granted the company access to approximately 50,000 hectares of land for oil palm cultivation. This agreement, according to the Council’s coordinator, Adelokiki Patrick, was structured as a lease and joint venture partnership between the then Western Region Government, representing the communities, and the company. The terms stipulated an upfront payment of ten years’ rent to facilitate the relocation of the original inhabitants to new settlements. Furthermore, the agreement outlined that subsequent activities on the land over the following decade would be converted into equity, granting the communities shares in the venture. This equity participation was intended to provide employment opportunities for future generations and ensure a flow of corporate social responsibility initiatives from the company back to the communities – a mechanism designed to foster shared prosperity and local control over the enterprise.
However, the narrative presented by the Ikale Supreme Civil Right Council paints a picture of unfulfilled promises and systemic disregard for the agreement’s terms. According to Patrick, the company has, over the course of nearly seventy years, operated on the land without demonstrating any meaningful engagement with the communities. This alleged negligence encompasses a failure to provide the stipulated relocation compensation, a denial of equity participation, and a complete absence of corporate social responsibility initiatives. This prolonged period of alleged exploitation has fuelled resentment and distrust within the communities, leading to the current appeal to the state government for intervention.
The Council’s appeal highlights the profound economic and social implications of the alleged breach of contract. The communities, having relinquished their ancestral lands for the promised benefits, now find themselves dispossessed and marginalized, denied the economic opportunities and social development initiatives that were central to the 1954 agreement. This disenfranchisement, coupled with the company’s alleged disregard for their concerns, has created a sense of injustice and fueled the potential for social unrest. The Council’s call for the Governor’s intervention underscores the urgency of the situation, emphasizing the need for a swift and decisive resolution to prevent further escalation.
The Council’s plea to Governor Aiyedatiwa centers on two key requests. Firstly, they urge the Governor to intervene directly in the dispute, mediating between the communities and the company to achieve a fair and equitable resolution. This intervention, the Council believes, is crucial to prevent the simmering discontent from erupting into a full-blown crisis. Secondly, they call upon the Governor to exert his influence on the company, urging them to finally adhere to the terms of the 1954 agreement. This adherence, they argue, is not only a matter of legal obligation but also a moral imperative, necessary to restore trust and ensure lasting peace in the affected communities.
The situation in Okitipupa and Irele Local Government Areas serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of honouring agreements, particularly those involving ancestral lands and the livelihoods of communities. The Ikale Supreme Civil Right Council’s appeal is a call for justice and a plea for the recognition of the communities’ rights. Their hope is that Governor Aiyedatiwa will heed their call and act decisively to ensure that the promises made in 1954 are finally fulfilled, bringing an end to decades of alleged exploitation and ushering in an era of shared prosperity and peaceful coexistence. The future stability and well-being of these communities hinge on the outcome of this appeal and the actions taken by the Ondo State Government.
