By Correspondent in Lokoja
Ebira indigenes in Ekiti state have pleaded with Governor Kayode Fayemi for compensation over illegal demolition of houses, farmlands without compensation.
They made the plea during a news conference in Lokoja over the weekend through the sposkeman of the Ebira community in the state, Isah Sa’ed.
Sa’ed said the state government had acquired over 40,000 acres of land in Bolorunduro community for the construction of an airport, adding that the development had affected their houses and farmlands
He said when the government came to take census of the place, they were assured that adequate compensations would be paid for houses and farmlands affected by the construction, but that to their utmost surprise when the compensation came, the Ebira people were technically excluded from the compensation.
He said:“When they started fencing the land last year, we asked them what will be the fate of farmers using the land and they told us that there would be no problem.
“They said that whenever it was time to commence work on the construction of the airport, the farmers would be given prior notice and be adequately compensated.
” We stood by that assurance and started cultivating our portion of the land and we have planted yams, cassava , cocoa yam and even pepper.
‘But to our surprise just last month, the company handling the project, by name Chinese civil Engineering Construction Company, rolled out its earth moving equipment and started demolishing our houses and destroying our crops worth several millions of naira.
“The Ebira people farming in this community have lived there for over 100 years, our great , great grandfathers settled in this community to earn a living through farming and today we are over 2,000 in population and many of us were born and brought up in this community.
‘We are aware that if government is embarking on such project, the occupants of the land will be compensated and relocated and to that effect we heard over the radio that the state government has released the sum of 500 million naira to compensate the affected farmers in the community.
‘But to our surprise when the Deputy Governor of the state came to the community few months ago to inspect the location of the airport,we tried to tender our complaints but he did not give us listening ear, because they said the compensation was limited to economic trees such as cocoa , palm trees, banana, kolanut and orange farmers.
‘We are surprised that the Ebira people who farmed Yams, Cassava , Cocoa yam and other cash crops were not part of the compensation and relocation.
“As i am talking to you now, some of our houses have been demolished without any form of compensation , we are homeless and our children , wives and elderly people are completely traumatized and hopeless.
‘Already, we are in a state of confusion, because we have families to cater for and our means of livelihood has been destroyed while we watch helplessly because we don’t have any body to assist us talk to the state government, we have been unjustly excluded from the compensation list.
“As farmers, we are law abiding, we contribute often to the economic growth of Ekiti state. We pay our taxes regularly and we give honorarium to the traditional institutions in the state on yearly basis.
“We are not claiming that the land belong to us but this is the community where we live for many years and cultivate the land to earn our living and training our children but suddenly we were being treated as if we are not Nigerians.
“Therefore, We are appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State to please prevail on Ekiti State Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi to compensate us for the crops and houses we have lost as a result of construction of the airport at Bolorunduro community,”
Also speaking,a 90-year-old man, Mallam Abu Yahaya. who said he was born in the community and that his father was also born in the community, also pleaded with Ekiti State government not to treat the ebiras living in the state as second class citizens.
” I grew up to meet my parents farming in this community and I am dumbfounded the way and manner the present government is treating us.
“Please, I am begging the Governor of Ekiti state to look into our plight with a view to assisting us, otherwise, many of us will face untimely deaths due to stress from over thinking.
‘The governor should please ask whoever is in charge to pay us compensation of our crops so that we can move to another area to settle” he urged.
However, some ebira indigenes living in Lokoja, Kogi state who spoke with the Correspondent of The Reporters, called on the national body of Ebira People Association (EPA), to wade into the issue, to ensure that the people affected get justice.
Sources: Nigerian post/ The Reporters.
