Farmers whose farmlands were affected by the ongoing airport project along Ado-Ijan Road in Ekiti state have pleaded with Governor Biodun Oyebanji to pay the compensations promised to them.
The farmers, drawn from towns and villages including Igbemo, Orun, Afao, Ijan, Igbogun, Bolorunduro, Iwajo, Aso and Ago Aduloju in Ado, Irepodun/Ifelodun and Gbonyin local government areas, took their protest to the Governors’ Office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
Politics Nigeria reports that the farmers were seen carrying placards with the inscriptions: ‘Oyebanji, please save our lives,’ ‘our aged fathers and mothers are dying of starvation, save our lives, please pay our compensations,’ and ‘the airport project took our livelihood.’
The Edemo of Igbemo, Awe Ojo, who spoke on behalf of the farmers, said: “Most of us have not been paid our entitlements. Very few of us received the money promised to us. Since then, the rest of us have been totally neglected.”
Meanwhile, a top government official of the state Ministry of Land Housing and Urban Development, Adedayo Olajide, while addressing the farmers, assured them that the governor was willing and ready to attend to their request.
