By Agbelusi Ganiyu
Business and other normal activities were paralyzed earlier today in Idanre, Ondo State as the people of the agrarian kingdom trooped out in their large numbers to protest the planned Ondo State Government take over of their forest reserve.
Major roads and strategic locations in Odode Idanre, Alade Idanre and Atosin Idanre, the three main towns in the community were blocked by the people in the process of demonstration which was largely peaceful.
Placards bearing various inscriptions like,”Ondo State Government should leave our forest for us”, “We depend on our farming activities for survival” etc etc were carried by the protesters who cut across various classes of people and sexes.
Speaking with Radio Nigeria Positive FM, Akure on the development which many indigenes of Idanre described as saddening and killing, Messrs Olaiya Femi, Akinwoleola Solomon, Mr. Akinyelure Bayo, Hon. Aribigbola Smart and Mrs Abike Akinlalu described the plan of Ondo State Government to take over the forest reserve which many had invested their life savings, time and other resources in as a very bad situation which will lead to bad consequences in not only Idanre but spill over to other parts of Ondo State. There will be massive unemployment and attendant rise in crime rate in the land which was known for being peaceful and virtually crime free.
At Odode Idanre MTD junction, Mr. Akinseye Niyi wondered what the government want the unemployed youths who went to work in the forest reserve after strolling the streets for years in fruitless searches for elusive jobs.
Mr. Akinsohun Clement opined that there is no justification whatsoever for the Ondo State Government to overnight want to snatch a land belonging to the people of Idanre in order to please few investing individuals at the detriment of the real owners of their ancestral land.
Meanwhile, security officers were on ground to ensure that there was no break down of law and order.
A high ranking police officer met at Alade Idanre roundabout described the situation as being under control and commended the people for the peaceful manners they took to express their feelings.
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