Ondo Governor Aiyedatiwa Sahara Reporters | 6 May 2025Ondo Governor Aiyedatiwa responds to cocoa farmers’ protest, denies land grabbing allegations
The government described the reports of protests by some cocoa farmers over farm settlements in the state as "misleading" and "emotionally distorted."
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has denied that government officials, in collusion with SAO Agro-Allied Services Limited, are dispossessing cocoa farmers in the state of their farmland.
The government described the reports of protests by some cocoa farmers over farm settlements in the state as "misleading" and "emotionally distorted."
SaharaReporters reported on Sunday that hundreds of farmers in the Oluwa Forest Reserve (OA3A) in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State had staged a major protest, accusing the state government, and officials of SAO Agro-Allied Services Limited of attempting to forcefully evict them from farmlands they have cultivated for years, despite a subsisting court order halting such actions.
The farmers, who wielded placards and banners, blocked a major highway and chanted slogans demanding justice and protection from what they described as state-backed land grabs.
The protest follows a March 24, 2025, interlocutory injunction by the Ondo State High Court, which restrained both the state government and SAO Agro-Allied Services Ltd from carrying out further grading or eviction activities pending the final determination of the case filed by the farmers.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, in a statement issued on Tuesday, through his Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, in reaction to the reports, stated that many of the aggrieved farmers breached existing agreements and exceeded designated land allocation parameters.
In the statement titled: ‘Setting the Record Straight on Cocoa Farmers' Protest and the Role of Government Officials,’ the governor noted that the actions of the government have been guided by "legal counsel, verified surveys, and documented notifications".
The governor alleged that the protest report contained several misleading claims, emotional distortions, and deliberate misrepresentations aimed at discrediting the government’s ongoing efforts to reform and sanitise land use practices within government reserve areas across the state.
"The Ondo State Government reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the welfare of genuine farmers and the responsible, equitable, and legal use of only declassified degraded forest reserves for agricultural purposes," the statement assured.
In response to the ongoing land issue and to correct the public narrative, the governor's spokesman clarified that, contrary to claims of contempt for court injunctions, the Ondo State Government and all relevant public and private agencies have acted in full compliance with the law.
He said: "Many of the aggrieved farmers currently occupying parts of the Oluwa Forest Reserve (OA3A) have breached existing agreements and exceeded designated land allocation parameters.
“Some have encroached into restricted forest zones without authorisation, while others have failed to comply with the agreed land use terms, posing serious environmental and security concerns.
"Contrary to the claims of contempt for court injunctions, the Ondo State Government and all related agencies; public and private, have acted strictly within the framework of the law. Where litigations are ongoing, every step taken has been guided by legal counsel, verified surveys, and documented notifications. No action has been taken arbitrarily.
"Hon. Rotimi Wemimo Akinsola, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agribusiness, is a government appointee overseeing agribusiness in the state. His role involves the strategic management of large-scale commercial agriculture investors granted concessions to develop extensive hectares of land, an effort that is expected to create thousands of jobs and boost the state’s revenue."
The statement dismissed allegations suggesting that he was involved in land grabbing, describing them as not only "false but politically driven and completely at variance with the facts."
Speaking on Mr. Ayo Sotinrin and SAO Agro-Allied Services, the governor's spokesman stated that the allegations implying that he is using a private firm to seize farmlands are "malicious, unfounded, and a clear attempt at character assassination," because of his recent appointment as the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, a federal government institution.
Adeniyan explained that SAO Agro-Allied Services, has been operating under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement approved by the state since 2021.
"The firm’s acquisition and development of agro-industrial zones have followed due process and are under full government oversight. None of its activities involves the unlawful takeover of legally secured farms," the statement said.
He reiterated the government's commitment to supporting legitimate farmers and ensuring the responsible use of declassified degraded forest reserves for agricultural activities.
The government assured the public that all actions taken have been based on legal advice, verified surveys, and proper documentation.
"No action has been taken arbitrarily," the statement read.
Governor Aiyedatiwa promised to protect livelihoods without compromising the rule of law and called for an investigation to identify genuine farmers with verifiable claims.
He said that the Ondo State government remains committed to transparency, environmental sustainability, and the growth of agriculture as the backbone of the state's economy.
According to the statement, Governor Aiyedatiwa expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue with all stakeholders and protect the interests of genuine farmers.
"This administration remains committed to transparency, environmental sustainability, and the growth of agriculture as the backbone of the state’s economy," the statement added.
