Protest Looms As Saki Indigenes Resist Attempt By Oyo To Hand Over Veterinary Land To Developer
Residents, indigenes and stakeholders in Saki, Oyo State, have rejected the state government’s plan to allocate the Veterinary land for the proposed Oke-Ogun Smart City project, describing the move as land grabbing.
Warning that they would resist any attempt to take over the property, they recalled how administration of ‘Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, has allegedly sold legacy projects like the Agodi Garden, Trans Amusement Park, BCOS and Fashola farms to friends and private investors linked to the Governor.
The development has sparked widespread opposition across the community, with indigenes insisting that the land should not be ceded to private developers for the project.
The resistance comes as Saki leaders and stakeholders directed the contractor handling activities on the disputed land to immediately suspend all work and remove all equipment from the site.
The leaders also resolved that farmers currently cultivating the land should continue their farming activities pending the final resolution of the ownership and other issues surrounding the property.
According to the resolution, the decision is aimed at maintaining peace and preserving the status quo until all outstanding issues are conclusively addressed.
Many residents have since taken to social media to condemn the proposed development, with some describing it as an attempt to grab community land.
One resident wrote, “The proposed Oke-Ogun Smart City project on the Veterinary land appears to be nothing more than a land-grabbing scheme. Scam!”
Another resident urged the community not to remain silent, writing: “We shouldn’t fold our arms this time around! Kolawole is there! Koleosho GRA is there!”
A social media user identified as @OminiCodedi wrote; “That’s a fertile land for farming, it was for veterinary, let it be for what it was proposed for”
Waheed Aderogba wrote; ‘WHY ARE SOME POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDERS IN SAKI DOING LIKE THIS. POSTERITY WILL JUDGE.SAKI ONI BAJE O. E JEKI AFURA SI AWON TI AO BA YAN SI PO NI ILU SAKI, IFEDAPO ATI OKEOGUN LAPAPO O.’
One Shittu Adetoro recalls the case of Fasola farm in Oyo. He wrote; “We all know the same thing was done in Oyo (Fasola) farm land Was it raised and inclusively discussed in the Oyo State House of Assembly. Capital project of such should scale reading in the floor. To me, I want to believe it is a “WHITE ELEPHANT PROJECT” which will not result to anything to saki city. Example of it is the Koleosho GRA project.”
Residents maintained that the veterinary land belongs to the people of Saki and warned that any attempt by the state government to proceed with the proposed development without addressing their concerns could trigger further resistance.
Revealing that the antics of the government is to remain silent on the matter and continue if they win the 2027, they vowed to reject the governor and other candidates of the Allied People’s Movement, APM in the election except they sign an agreement.
