By Adekola Afolabi

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has received the report of the Advisory Committee set up by the government on Communal Land Dispute in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government area of the state.

Submitting the report to the Governor on Thursday in his office, Alagbaka, Akure, the Chairman of the five-man Committee, Chief Olajide Ajana,SAN, said the committee received four memoranda from interested and aggrieved parties.

Chief Ajana noted that the committee also held public hearing where stakeholders were able to speak and seek clarifications on their memos.

He expressed his belief that the recommendations of the committee will assist in resolving the communal land dispute in Igbokoda.

“Upon receiving our appointment on the 9th of May, 2022, we contacted stakeholders for memoranda. Upon receipt of the memoranda, we analysed the memos. Upon analysing the memos, we held a Public meeting where stakeholders were able to speak to their memos and seek clarifications. After the meeting we analysed  and reached recommendations.” The Chairman stressed.

Receiving the report, Governor Akeredolu appreciated members of the committee for their efforts and tenacity to arrive at the report and ensure justice is served.

He disclosed that a report was received earlier but wasn’t very satisfying, stressing that the State Government decided to set up another committee with more Senior Lawyers to look in-depth into the dispute.

The Governor, who frowned at the activities of land grabbers in the state, also emphasised that all hands must be on deck to discourage land grabbing in the society.

He expressed confidence that the report would put an end to the crisis, adding that his administration is determined to permanently solve the problem in affected communities.

Governor Akeredolu  encouraged Traditional rulers and community leaders across the state to always work for peace and development of their domains.

“Communal land dispute keeps reoccurring and it has become a sore point of any community.

“In spite of provisions of Land Use Act, we still have Obas pursuing land saying it belongs to my forefathers. Land Use Act covers all land to which you can have a Certificate of Occupancy and to which you can have Customary Rights of occupancy. There is no land that is vested in any Oba. But what we have seen and what we are facing is that our people have failed to live within the provisions of the laws. But what I see there is poverty”, the Governor stressed.