Amosun tasks traditional rulers on security, land grabbing
Barely 24 hours the Ogun State House of Assembly passed death sentence or 25-year jail term on culprits of forcible entry and illegal occupation of landed properties, Governor Ibikunle Amosun has tasked traditional institutions across the state on the provision of shield and security for investors against illegal activities of land grabbers whose nefarious acts are alarming and condemnable.
The admonition came on Wednesday from the chief security officer at the inauguration of Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenla, Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewa land as the chairman of Ogun State Council of Obas, having observed increasing illegal activities and violent attack as well as forcible entry and occupation of landed properties, especially properties belonging to foreign investors and occupants.
Speaking shortly after the inauguration in Abeokuta, the state capital on Wednesday, Governor Amosun said the economic activities of the state could only be improved upon if traditional leaders could work towards discouraging people and possibly, the land grabbers from making difficult and impossible demands from genuine investors and occupants of landed properties.
“I cannot end this address without touching on an issue that remains a source of concern in our efforts to broaden the economic base of Ogun State. This has to do with the role of traditional rulers in land matters. I find this occasion most auspicious to remind our Royal Fathers of the need to support investors who seek land for development purposes. We should as leaders discourage our people from making difficult and impossible demands on genuine investors.
“We must realise that ease of access to land is a strong factor in investment decisions. As a State, we cannot have enough investment which will enable us to tackle the menace of unemployment and its attendant challenges of poverty and criminality if we continue to put stumbling blocks in the way of genuine investors who require land to set up their businesses.
“Our traditional rulers should be in the vanguard of our drive to realize the vision of making Ogun State the investment destination of choice not only in Nigeria but also on the West Coast.
“In the same vein, I wish to stress that our Traditional Rulers must continue to be at the fore-front of protecting government facilities in their domains. This is important for reasons that the facilities, particularly critical national and State assets remain crucial in our collective drive for economic development,” the governor said.
He added, “Let me end this address by expressing my profound gratitude for the laudable roles played by our Traditional Rulers to achieve the creation of the 37 additional LCDAs that culminated in the just concluded Local Government elections in the 20 Local Governments and 37 LCDAs.
“Undoubtedly, the democratic dispensation that has been extended to the grassroots has great potentials to propel the economic and industrial development of the State, and invariably benefit entire strata of people of our dear State.
“Our Royal Fathers should endeavour to be in the vanguard of preparing our people to tap into these benefits in a way that assures the positive transformation of our communities and enhances the position of Ogun State as a model state in the Federation.”