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Ikale News Publisher Calls on Senator Jimoh Ibrahim and Hon. Jimi Odimayo to Intervene in OOP Plc Communities Dispute
Ikale News Publisher, Dr. Bolu John Folayan, has appealed to the Senator representing Ondo South, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, and Prince Jimi Odimayo, representing Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, to urgently address the escalating dispute between Okitipupa Oil Palm Plc (OOP Plc) and the host communities.
In a press statement, the veteran community journalist and scholar commended the Ikale Supreme Civil Rights Coalition (ISCRC), a non-governmental organization, for its boldness in confronting the company and its cronies who are exploiting the community’s resources. However, he emphasized the need for a broader stakeholder coalition to resolve the core issues of the dispute.
Dr. Folayan lauded Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for maintaining a neutral position and expressing willingness to mediate among the stakeholders. He urged the Ikale community to seize the opportunity to resolve the problem amicably.
“Our communities have nothing to show for OOP Plc’s occupation of over 10,000 hectares of our land for 71 years. Various individuals have exploited the company to enrich themselves at the expense of the communities. There is no land left for commercial farming or building houses except in dense forests. An unprecedented crisis is looming as the youth are angry and only being restrained from taking matters into their own hands,” he stated.
Dr. Folayan suggested that Senator Jimoh Ibrahim and Hon. Odimayo, given their reputations, could coordinate an amicable resolution of the problem by taking the following urgent steps:
- Summon a stakeholders' meeting comprising representatives of the families who signed the lease agreement with the Western Regional Government, traditional rulers of the affected communities, NGOs interested in the matter (not limited to ISCRC), elder statesmen, and other legislators from the affected area.
- Present the stakeholders’ demands and lead a delegation of united stakeholders to meet OOP Plc at the ODIPA meeting, as directed by Governor Aiyedatiwa, to propose mutually beneficial solutions.
Dr. Folayan, who established Ikale News in 1992, noted that the ISCRC, as currently constituted, cannot act as a holistic umpire in the dispute due to its vested interest in the matter. He stressed the importance of the Ikale people attending the negotiation with a united voice.
He further warned that if Senator Ibrahim and Hon. Odimayo fail to unify the communities on this issue, aggrieved parties might resort to litigation, which could be time-consuming and unlikely to result in a win-win outcome.
“Going to the ODIPA meeting as disjointed forces will naturally lead to failure,” he cautioned.
The community development activist criticized OOP Plc’s management for claiming to meet the statutory needs of the Ikale people, describing their statement as “reckless and insensitive.”
Dr. Folayan accused the company of instigating violence and crises in Ikale communities through divide-and-rule tactics while siphoning billions of naira worth of resources illegally. He warned the company’s management against relying on self-serving consultants intent on causing discord within the community.
“The wisdom of our forefathers in leasing the expansive land was to create jobs for their offspring and facilitate the development of Ikale communities. Seventy-one years later, where are the jobs? Where is the development? We live here. When trouble starts, these profit-driven consultants who do not reside in the community will be nowhere to be found. Even the few traditional rulers siding against the people will regret such actions,” he said.
Dr. Folayan reassured OOP Plc’s management that if the company genuinely means well for the Ikale people, it has nothing to fear from engaging in dialogue facilitated by Governor Aiyedatiwa. He stressed that such discussions could bring greater benefits to the company.
“OOP Plc has encroached on lands not leased to it. There is no proper corporate governance. The company is not profitable, let alone engaging in meaningful corporate social responsibility (CSR). Ikale people have talented entrepreneurs who could provide ideas to improve the company’s operations. However, it cannot be business as usual. The returns on the land it occupies are too poor for us as communities. We need to reclaim much of the land for massive commercial agriculture. Cocoa and rubber are now more lucrative than oil palm derivatives. The Ondo State Government also stands to gain from a proper resolution of this dispute as it is losing internally generated revenue (IGR) due to the mismanagement of resources,” he stressed.
The veteran journalist urged Senator Ibrahim and Hon. Odimayo, as elected representatives, to rally other stakeholders and leave a lasting legacy. “If OOP Plc or any stakeholder is dissatisfied with the resolution, they can pursue legal action.”
“They are lawmakers with oversight functions on matters of policy and law. This is a legal issue, and they are men of integrity respected by all stakeholders. Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, in particular, will call a spade a spade, no matter who is involved. He must lead the Ikale people to the ODIPA meeting and seek an amicable resolution to this matter.”
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