The women of Odo-Oro community in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State took to the streets on Monday to protest against Agbeyewa Farms, an agricultural firm they accused of destroying their ancestral farmlands.
Chanting solidarity songs and wielding placards with inscriptions such as “Stop Destroying Our Livelihood” and “Our Land, Our Heritage,” the women marched through the town in a plea for intervention.
They called on President Bola Tinubu, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Senator Cyril Fasuyi, and other leaders to halt what they described as the “systematic erasure” of their economic lifeline.
Speaking press during the protest, the Eyelobinrin Area of Odo-Oro Kingdom, Chief (Mrs.) Adebomola Ogunsakin, condemned the activities of Agbeyewa Farms, and accused the company of uprooting economic trees and decimating cocoa and palm plantations handed down through generations.
“They are cutting down our cocoa farms, cutting down our palm trees, and destroying the legacy our forefathers left behind. If this inhumanity continues, what do they expect us to survive on? This is a direct assault on our survival,” Ogunsakin said
The community’s traditional ruler, the Onise of Odo-Oro, Oba Babatunde Jemilehin, who received the protesting women at his palace, threw support for his people.
He warned against any forceful takeover of community lands under the guise of investment.
“We are not against economic development,” the monarch clarified.
He further said, “But when an investment drives people into poverty and erases their ancestral heritage, it is no longer an investment but an injustice. We are witnessing food insecurity being created under the claim of achieving food security.”
Oba Jemilehin also decried what he described as the “audacity” of Agbeyewa Farms to continue their activities despite numerous appeals to authorities.
“My people have spoken, and I stand firmly with them. We will no longer tolerate this injustice and inhumane treatment,” he said.
In response to the criticism, John Olajide, founder of Agbeyewa Farms and its parent company Cavista Holdings, urged calm and dialogue.
He maintained that the company’s intentions were noble, aimed at boosting food production and creation of jobs in the state.
Olajide acknowledged the community’s fears, while blaming historical experiences with dubious investors for the distrust.
He insisted that Agbeyewa Farms was committed to engaging with the community transparently.
Olajide said, “If there are any areas of misunderstanding, it is natural that there will be conflicts from time to time. We are focused on partnerships that ensure everyone wins — the community, the government, and the investors alike.”
