Prince Joel Adeboboye Oloye, speaking passionately on behalf of the Orun-Ekiti Community, on Wednesday launched a fierce condemnation targeting the controversial establishment of a Federal College of Agriculture in Ise-Ekiti.
Attributing all statements to the official press release by Prince Joel Adeboboye Oloye in Ado Ekiti, JIROLTV reports the community demands to include, the immediate suspension of the project pending the resolution of a volatile land dispute and inclusion of the community “Orun Ekiti” as pushed by the original agitator -Senator Abiodun Olujimi.
Commending the Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji’s administration as the only government before now to have constituted a Technical Committee to look into boundary issues before reaching a conclusion, called on the state government to produce the recommendations of the committee noting that it would greatly speed up the judgement.
He asserted that the true initiative came from Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South, 9th Assembly), who originally sought to establish the Federal College of Agriculture in “Ise-Orun” Ekiti. Oloye accused Rep. Ojuawo of “fraudulently deleting the name of “Orun-Ekiti” when re-presenting the bill in the 10th Assembly.
Prince Oloye revealed that Orun-Ekiti’s Counsel, Tokunbo Aderinboye had urgently urged Speaker Tajudeen Abbas in a June 11, 2024 letter about a critical boundary dispute pending before the Ekiti State Boundary Commission. This dispute involves Orun-Ekiti, Emure-Ekiti, and Ise-Ekiti, with Ise-Ekiti reportedly holding only “OBSERVER STATUS”
While Emure-Ekiti actively claims the contested land.”Despite this clear legal warning, the Hon. Speaker went ahead to pass the bill on 22 October, 2024,” Oloye stated. condemning this action as “hitting below the belt.” A subsequent plea was sent to the Senate President on November 18, 2024.
The Orun Community issued a direct and urgent two fold demand.Firstly, they called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withhold his assent to the bill until the boundary dispute is conclusively settled by the Ekiti State Boundary Commission. Secondly, Prince Oloye pressed Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to expedite a ruling on the long-pending boundary dispute among Orun-Ekiti, Emure-Ekiti, and Ise-Ekiti, emphasizing that”Justice delayed is justice denied.”
He affirmed that Orun-Ekiti is “not opposed to the establishment of the Federal College of Agriculture in Ekiti State,” but vehemently objects to finalizing its location in Ise-Ekiti while the legal ownership of the proposed land remains under fierce contestation.
The community demands the boundary dispute be resolved before the federal institution is established on the disputed site.
“We are here to set the record straight, We regard the actions taken as prejudicial and undermining the rule of law,”Prince Oloye concluded.”Orun- Ekiti demands justice and due process.”
Present at the press conference were the Orun Ekiti Progressive Union National President Mr.Samuel Omolayo Ogunjemilua and a Community Leader Mr.Joseph Sunday Ogunjemilua.
The fate of the Federal College of Agriculture now hinges on presidential restraint and gubernatorial action, as a bitter land feud threatens to overshadow Ekiti State’s educational advancement.
