The Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola; the Oniladuntan of Laduntan, Oba Kamorudeen Adeyemi; a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ona Ara Local Government, Alhaji Waheed Adurodekun amongst others on Wednesday lauded the State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde for taking over the illegally acquired land of the Games Village, Akanran from those who encroached on it.
They said the development was long overdue, just as they appealed to the State Governor to beam searchlight on other similar government lands across the State that have been illegally cornered and sold to unsuspecting members of the public.
Alhaji Adurodekun who spoke on behalf of the aforementioned leaders, appreciated the State Governor for taking the initiative to protect government assets from going into the private pockets at the expense of the public good.
He bemoaned a situation where corrupt civil servants are being used to procure ‘Red Copy’ documents from the Ministry of Land on a facility that government set aside for developmental purposes.
According to Alhaji Adurodekun, “on behalf of the Osi Olubadan, Oba Ajibola who doubles as the traditional head of Ona Ara Local Government; the Oniladuntan and other stakeholders in ‘Project Ona Ara’, I am happy with the efforts of the State Government on recovery of lands that have been encroached on, by some misguided individuals.
“Taking the bull by its horn has shown that the Governor of the State is not tolerating any action inimical to public good. Everybody is happy with what the Governor alongside his commissioner for Lands, Mr Akin Funmilayo is doing especially for having the effrontery to confront this matter head on.
“Akin Funmilayo’s predecessors had no such political will and probably the backing of the previous Governors to recover government lands and assets but this development under Omituntun 2.0 is not only commendable but indeed important to protect the master plan of our dear State.
“The Governor should not relent and must provide all necessary security backings for the Commissioner to do more in order to beam his searchlights on other local governments. This will stop innocent people abroad from falling victims of criminal elements selling government lands to them,” Adurodekun added.