Oyo State House of Assembly has summoned the surveyor general and permanent secretary, Ministry of Lands and Urban Development.

It has set up an ad hoc committee to investigate alleged move by the government to acquire land and buildings of inhabitants of Olorisa-Oko, Ajibade, Alabata, Agbedo and Alase in Akinyele Local Government.

The decision was reached after the consideration of a motion by the member representing Akinyele 2 Constituency, Taofeek Kehinde, on the alleged move by the government.

Presenting the case of his constituents at yesterday’s plenary; he warned that the state government could be at the risk of causing confusion in the affected communities if it implemented public policy without dialoguing with the supposed beneficiaries of the development.

Kehinde pointed to the growing tension in the affected communities because of the suspicion that the government planned to acquire their land without due process.

He observed that with inhabitants of the affected villages being predominantly farmers, they were displeased that their means of livelihood was about to be taken away, “through the back door.”

Kehinde said the villagers were alarmed when they saw strangers parading themselves as government officials going about with land measuring instruments.

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He said: “The inhabitants of the mentioned villages are predominantly farmers, who have no other means of livelihood besides farming. This justifies the cry from the people about the suspicious move by the government to acquire their means of livelihood without prior notice.

“Acquisition or confiscation of property is usually through appropriate processes and procedures as provided by extant laws. Therefore, the government should communicate the people through the right channels on the proposed mission. It will benefit the people and of course the state.”

Commenting on the motion, Adebayo Babajide (Ibadan North II Constituency) highlighted the consequences of gap in information, urging the government to carry along the people and relevant stakeholders in its actions, to prevent crisis.

Dele Adeola (Iseyin/Itesiwaju Constituency), argued that the state government acquired the 2,000 hectares of land for development control purposes, bearing in mind that projects like dry port, railway and circular road were coming to the area.

The Majority Leader, Sanjo Adedoyin, said Governor Seyi Makinde was a listening man and would not take steps to hurt the people of Oyo State.

He held that he was sure that the intention of the government to have a business district in the local government area must have been informed by the need to expand infrastructural facilities in preparation for projects such as Dry Port, Railway and Circular Road in the area.

Tunde Isiaka (Oyo East/Oyo West Constituency), called for calm, saying the government would adhere to due process to take land as contained in the Land Use Act.

To investigate the issue, Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin set up an ad hoc committee headed by Bamidele Adeola to meet stakeholders to ensure that the government adheres to due process.

He said the permanent secretary of the concerned ministry and the surveyor general should appear before the lawmakers to explain the plan of the government.

The committee was mandated to give report two weeks after resumption from its yearly recess that begins on Wednesday.

The committee is expected to summon the permanent secretary on lands and housing, surveyor general, director of physical planning and ‘baales’ of the affected villages.

Also passed into law is the state Elderly Persons Protection Bill, 2021 sponsored by Olawumi Oladeji of Ogbomoso North Constituency.