ORUN -EKITI COMMUNITY URGES FG TO HALT AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE PROJECT OVER BOUNDARY DISPUTES 27-06-25
By Sadiq Aminu The people of Orun-Ekiti in the Ekiti South Senatorial District have called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to suspend the proposed siting of the Federal College of Agriculture in Ise-Ekiti, pending the resolution of an ongoing boundary dispute involving Orun, Ise, and Emure communities.
Speaking at a press conference, community leaders including Prince Adeboboye Oloye, National President of the Orun Progressives Union, alongside Mr. Samuel Ogunjemilua and Mr. Sunday Ogunjemilua, expressed concern that going ahead with the project could incite unrest if not handled with fairness.
Leading the address, Prince Oloye stated that Orun-Ekiti owns 443 square kilometers of land which was validated by a court judgment and insisted that it would be unjust for the government to acquire any part of that land for a project tagged solely in the name of another community.
The leaders criticized the recent move by the National Assembly, saying the original bill to establish the Federal College of Agriculture, initiated by Senator Biodun Olujimi in the 9th Assembly, proposed the institution in Ise-Orun Ekiti.
They alleged that when the bill was reintroduced in the current 10th Assembly by Hon. Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, representing Ekiti South 1 Federal Constituency, the name “Orun” was deliberately removed.
They noted that their legal representative, Barrister Tokunbo Aderinboye, wrote to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, on June 11, 2024, informing him of the boundary dispute pending before the Ekiti State Boundary Commission. Despite this, the House proceeded to pass the bill on October 22, 2024.
Prince Oloye further recalled that at the public hearing held on June 6, 2024, the Arinjale of Ise-Ekiti, Oba Adetunji Ajayi, claimed Ise had sufficient land for the college and other developments, the claims Orun community disputes.
On his part, the National President Orun Progressives Union, Mr. Samuel Ogunjemilua described the Speaker’s actions as unfair and noted that a follow-up petition was sent to the Senate President on November 18, 2024, urging the upper chamber not to approve the bill until all disputes were resolved.
“We are not against the establishment of the college in Ekiti State, but it must follow due process and reflect justice and fairness,” he said.
The community praised Governor Biodun Oyebanji for setting up a boundary assessment committee and urged him to issue a fair ruling on the matter, stressing that “justice delayed is justice denied.”
Prince Oloye reaffirmed the peaceful nature of Orun people but stressed that they would not accept any attempt to deprive them of their rightful inheritance