Muslims in Ekiti State on Monday
took to the streets to protest the alleged forceful taking over of their
expanse land located within the premises of Ola-Oluwa Muslims Grammar School on
Ilawe road, Ado Ekiti.
took to the streets to protest the alleged forceful taking over of their
expanse land located within the premises of Ola-Oluwa Muslims Grammar School on
Ilawe road, Ado Ekiti.
They described the action of the
State Government as “injustice” claiming that Governor Ayodele Fayose did not
call them for a meeting before the seizure of the land they acquired over 50
years ago.
State Government as “injustice” claiming that Governor Ayodele Fayose did not
call them for a meeting before the seizure of the land they acquired over 50
years ago.
The protesters, who conducted
themselves peacefully, dislodged government officials sent by the Ministry of
Works to map out the already cleared land, earmarked for the building of a
proposed housing units and hotel.
themselves peacefully, dislodged government officials sent by the Ministry of
Works to map out the already cleared land, earmarked for the building of a
proposed housing units and hotel.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters,
Alhaji Azeez Ibiyemi, described the government’s action as “very embarrassing”,
adding that no consultation was made with the Muslim community before embarking
on the project.
Alhaji Azeez Ibiyemi, described the government’s action as “very embarrassing”,
adding that no consultation was made with the Muslim community before embarking
on the project.
He said about 65 hectares of land
were acquired by Muslims on that portion out of which the secondary and primary
schools were built by Muslim community before they were taken over by
government.
were acquired by Muslims on that portion out of which the secondary and primary
schools were built by Muslim community before they were taken over by
government.
He argued that the unoccupied
expanse of land still remained the legal property of the Muslim community.
expanse of land still remained the legal property of the Muslim community.
“We have the Certificate of Occupancy
with us and the survey plan. This land belongs to all the Muslims in Ekiti and
what we wanted to build on it is our International mosque, international Youth
Centre, hospital and a tertiary institution and that was why we decided not to
collect compensation when the schools were taken over by government, so that we
can make use of the remaining land.
with us and the survey plan. This land belongs to all the Muslims in Ekiti and
what we wanted to build on it is our International mosque, international Youth
Centre, hospital and a tertiary institution and that was why we decided not to
collect compensation when the schools were taken over by government, so that we
can make use of the remaining land.
“The Government had taken over a
portion of AUD secondary school for the construction of Ministry of Works and
the Pilot school in Ajilosun and no compensations were paid.
portion of AUD secondary school for the construction of Ministry of Works and
the Pilot school in Ajilosun and no compensations were paid.
“The schools owned by Catholic,
Anglican and Baptist churches have large expanse of lands, why must Muslims be
targeted as victims of land seizure by government?”, he asked.
Anglican and Baptist churches have large expanse of lands, why must Muslims be
targeted as victims of land seizure by government?”, he asked.
But the Commissioner for
Information, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi, said every land in the state belonged to the
government under the Land Use Act.
Information, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi, said every land in the state belonged to the
government under the Land Use Act.
He, however, assured them that
government would meet with the Muslims to end the crisis.
government would meet with the Muslims to end the crisis.
“It was wrong for individuals to
say a particular land belongs to him. Government has the power to acquire any
land, even if there is house on it. But the Muslim community is very important
to us. We will dialogue with them and settle this matter amicably,” Ogunsuyi
said.
say a particular land belongs to him. Government has the power to acquire any
land, even if there is house on it. But the Muslim community is very important
to us. We will dialogue with them and settle this matter amicably,” Ogunsuyi
said.
The Leader of National Council of Muslim Youth, Alhaji Jamiu
Ola-anabi and Imam Kasaliyu Buhari, appealed to government to see reason and
abandon the land in the interest of peace.
Ola-anabi and Imam Kasaliyu Buhari, appealed to government to see reason and
abandon the land in the interest of peace.
Ola-anabi said he expected
government to dialogue and seek their consent to avert crisis on the matter,
saying, “we will go to court if the gentleman agreement we are seeking with
government fails. Under no circumstance shall we allow government to take over
this land the way they did in the past.”
government to dialogue and seek their consent to avert crisis on the matter,
saying, “we will go to court if the gentleman agreement we are seeking with
government fails. Under no circumstance shall we allow government to take over
this land the way they did in the past.”
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