The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has alleged that certain traditional rulers have been involved in the sale of lands belonging to the state government.
According to The PUNCH, he highlighted the disconcerting issue of some of these rulers selling government reserve forests to individuals engaged in planting illegal substances such as Indian hemp within these forests.
Expressing disappointment and surprise, the governor had initially hoped that these reports against the traditional rulers were mere rumors.
However, upon investigation, he confirmed the authenticity of the allegations.
In response to this concerning revelation, the governor cautioned that his administration would enforce disciplinary measures against anyone found responsible for selling land within forest reserves and plantations across the state.
This warning was delivered during the Statutory Meeting of the State Council of Obas, conducted at the Oba’s Complex in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Abiodun labeled the actions of those involved, including some Obas engaged in selling government land, as unpatriotic.
He said, “We will continue to seek your support in the area of lands. Sadly, cases have been reported to us here in Abeokuta about some of our monarchs who have taken it upon themselves to allocate government land, government forest reserves, and plantations to others. They’ve been allocating and selling government lands.
“I have found this very difficult to believe. I consider this extremely unpatriotic that our monarchs will now begin to allocate such lands to others and worst still, in some of the areas, the land is being allocated to non-Ogun State indigenes.
“Our Kabiyesis are colluding with people from outside Ogun State and giving our land to them in our plantations and they are coming there, deforesting them. They are destroying the plantation. They are planting Indian hemp there. I was completely heartbroken when I heard this news and when we actually verified it was true.
“As a responsible state government, we will not have any choice but to take disciplinary action against any person found culpable of such an act; any person, be it Kabiyesi or any person.
“Because, this land does not belong to me, it doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to our collective patrimony; it is our collective property that we own as a state. It is our commonwealth, and we should endeavour to ensure that we do not engage in such acts like this capable of tarnishing the image of the royalty and the throne.”
