Juliet Uduji
The Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Oyedotun, Bibiire I, has warned settlers in the community demanding compensation for the land on which the Police Mobile Training College, Ila, was built to quit making such demand or leave the community.
Disassociating himself and Ila indigenes from the demand, Oba Oyedotun said the intention of the settlers is to prevent the economic development of the community and scare away potential investors.
Addressing Newsmen in his palace, the Orangun also ordered all the settlers, who had taken the matter to court to withdraw their suits on the Government, adding that if they fail to do so, they will be asked to vacate the community.
According to the monarch, the land which the settlers are demanding compensation for was given to them free, to farm on, stressing that when it was taken from them, they were duly compensated by the community.
He said the Police College land was offered by the community as part of their contribution to the State and Federal Government.
”Nobody should claim any form of monetary compensation from the Government either on the land or for the farm produce on the land. All the suits in the State High Court or any other Courts in Nigeria should be withdrawn immediately.
”We are aware that the amount of monetary claims quoted by individual farmer in respect of the farm products, are highly inflated and unreasonable,” he said.
However, he said that the people of Ila-Orangun are not against any compensation that the Government deems fit within its means to give deserving and identified farmers duly recognized by the community.
The Chairman, Ila-Orangun Council, Paul Ogunrinade, mentioned that it was their plea to the Federal Government to establish the school for the economic development of the community, urging farmers to cooperate with them, saying they have been invited for dialogue on peaceful coexistence.