By Tola Gbadamosi &
Adekola Afolabi

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Ondo State government yesterday held a meeting with stakeholders including farmers in Ofosu and Idanre government reserves.

Addressing the stakeholders at the well attended meeting held at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka Akure, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu noted that his administration was interested in improving Agro business for sustainable economy.

Akeredolu who was represented by his Special Adviser on Security Matters and Commander of Amotekun Corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye disclosed that the essence of the meeting was to carry along the farmers in government forests.

He explained that part of the affected government reserves would be used by investors for oil Palm business, adding that government would continue to attract investors to create more jobs and ensure socioeconomic development of the state.

The government said there was no plan to evict the farmers from their farms or cause any hardship for them but to make lives more meaningful to them.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the affected towns and villages, farmers and other stakeholders.

He appealed to all stakeholders to embrace peace and support government efforts to diversify the economy and improve the economic base of the state.

“Specifically, the meeting today is to address Ofosu/Idanre axis of the forest reserves. Investors are coming in and we need the cooperation of the communities, the farmers, and everybody inside that forest reserves.

“We need their support, and these investors are bringing in new innovations into farming such that they could improve the lives of farmers themselves, and to be able to achieve this, we need the support of the poeple to assist government to assist themselves.

“There is an initiative being sponsored by the Central Bank of Nigeria and Federal Government on Cocoa revolution, on cashew, and palm products. These are some of the products the investors are investing heavily into”, he added.

He equally appreciated the farmers for their unalloyed support for Amotekun Corps, saying in the last three months, over 5,000 criminals have been arrested for various criminal offences, just as he solicited for more of such to achieve more successes.

Earlier, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agric and Agribusiness, Akin Olotu, encouraged the affected farmers to key into government Forestry Management Committee for more benefits.

He added that the government oil Palm initiative has been adjudged best, adding as it is targeted at revamping the economy of the state would be emulated

Also, the Owa of Idanre, Oba Frederick Adegunle Aroloye represented by Prof. Samuel Olugbenga, Oke, who appreciated government for the stakeholders’ meeting, also called on government to ensure that the interest of the people and farmers is factored into the programme in the interest of peace and development of the state.