Not less than about 100 farmers from the about 5 communities affected by the construction of the cargo airport in Ekiti state namely; Igbogun, Afao, Araromi Obo, Aso Ayegunle and Igbemo Ekiti have today led a protest to the office of the Governor in Ado Ekiti the Ekiti state capital over the unpaid entitlements promised by the state government.
This protests is one out of the many protests the affected farmers have held in the state in the last one year, the last one held in June seems to yield positive result when the Governor of the state Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji met with the protesting farmers and promised them succour in the next two weeks.
But according to the spokesman of the visibly angry farmers Chief Awe Ojo the Edemo of Igbemo, declares that ever since the meeting with governor in June 2023 nothing has been heard from the office of the government even after the Governor promised them two weeks.
" We have it on good authority that after our meeting with the Governor in June which even had members of the Press in attendance, nothing has been done so far because some government officials we learnt are out to frustrate our efforts to get what rightly belongs to us"
This is totally a renege on the agreement we had with his Excellency in June and we know him as a promise keeper and for him not to have done as promised means that the story circulating that some fraudulent government officials who are in charge of disbursing our entitlements are hiding the files and documents for their selfish interest " Chief Awe concluded.
Another farmer Elder Peter Oso who was visibly in tears said that about 11 people have died since the struggle began in 2013.
" Apart from those who have died so many people are on their sick beds and have no means to settle their bills since their source of livelihood have been destroyed "
" The Governor met us in June and we thought our prayers have been answered because he promised us two weeks and now the two weeks has turned to four months this is very very unfair"
The farmers carried placards and sang solidarity songs calling the attention of the Governor to come attend to them.
But in a swift reaction, the Commissioner for Transportation Mr. Kolawole Ajobiewe who attended to the protesting farmers called for calm while promising that the matter at hand is already on the table of the governor.
Mr. Ajobiewe maintained that efforts are seriously in motion to address the issue.
" Let me address our fathers and mother's to be calm, the Governor is aware and I want to assure us all that very soon there will be news of joy"
He maintained a meeting concerning the issue will be held to that effect and it will be communicated to the farmers as before Friday 13th 2023.
It will be recalled that farmers whose farms, lands and houses were destroyed when during the commencement of the Airport project started protesting as far back as year 2021 where they accused the state government of withholding the entitlements.
The farmers in April 21st in their numbers blocked the entrance of the airport and prevented workers from accessing the construction site thereby grounding activities and vehicular movement along the Ado to Ijan road.
Also on June 9 2023, the farmers again took their grievances to the office of the executive Governor of Ekiti state Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji where they accused AVM Ojuawo, the ministry of Lands and Housing and Mr. Awosiku of sabotaging their efforts and diverting the funds meant for the farmers.
Even though, those the farmers accused denied any involvement in the sharp practises they were accused of they could not give tangible reasons as to why the farmers are yet to be paid.
The protest of June 2023 later yielded positive results when the Governor met with the aggrieved farmers and promised them to pay their entitlements within the period of two weeks after the meeting and at the expiration of the time given by the Governor, the farmers again mobilized in their numbers to the Governor's office on Monday October 9 to remind him of his promise he made since June 2023.
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