We’re committed to impact positively to our Ondo hosting communities in 2025 — Taiwo Adewole

The Managing Director, of Okitipupa Oil Palm Company, Taiwo Adewole, has reiterated his commitment to the growth of the company, adding that the growth, through a comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, will positively impact positively the hosting Ondo communities in 2025.

According to him, the measures put in place were part of a strategic vision to reposition the company as a major player in the oil palm value chain in the country.

Adewole, who disclosed this during a stakeholders meeting, which was conveyed by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 17, Abiodun Asabi, held in Akure said; “our position is very clear, we are here for a business and therefore anything that is disrupting our business is not good for the company and the economy of the state.

“We are a responsible company, and we are committed to the growth of the company and to impact positivity to the communities where we operate. Now, there are a lot of encroachments, particularly the Ikale Supreme Civil Rights Council (ISCRC) have mobilized people into our plantations illegally and disrupted the operation of the company.

“I think this action needs to be stopped immediately, we encourage dialogue and engagement from any individual or organization as far as we are concerned.

“The Ondo State Government is in support of investment, and has told the aggrieved parties to trust them to intervene and that there should not be further actions against the company.

“Whatever claims they think they have, they should channel it through the appropriate structure and that is the only way to remedy any grievances.

“I just want to appeal to us, we recognized you as critical stakeholders and that was why about a month ago the board approved that we set up a committee of two directors, who represent the interest of the landowners and a consultant to go around the entire sixteen communities to find out what do we really need to do to impact on our community and I know that we will do it.

“But I want to appeal that the people on our plantation, as we speak, should vacate it immediately because of what good does it serve that this company collapses, no good, the opportunity for us as a company is enormous, creating work for people.

“We want to make it better, we can do it. We doesn’t’ have to bring any foreigners to come and help us. If we don’t do it, nobody will do it for us.”

Orimisan Adelokiki, the spokesman, of Ikale Supreme Civil Rights Council (ISCRC), while presenting their case during the stakeholders meeting said; “OOPC is an interloper on our land, we don’t have an agreement with the company. They have mismanaged our land and exploited our people.

“The lands in question were donated for public interest and the government interest then overridden the interest of any individual not for the business like it is being practised today. So what is happening in our land today was a strange development under the law that established our land.

“The host communities have never seen any traceable projects being done by the company, and the company was in existence but they started exploiting our people, reaping our people and we have appealed to our lawyer to retrieve every thing that is due to us.”

The Rebuja of Osooro kingdom, Gbadebo Bajowa, Laragunsi of Iyansan kingdom, Olasehinde Akinyomi and Jegun of Idepe-Okitipupa, Obatuga Adetoye lamented the lack of fairness by the company to the people, adding that they would do everything possible to ensure peace in their communities.

They, however, called on the AIG Asabi, to use his good office to investigate thoroughly and settle the matter for the concerned parties.

“Let us approach this matter in a very civil way so that peace can reign in our communities,” the monarchs said.

Femi Akarakiri, the Head of the Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA), who spoke on behalf of the State Government said; “we are trying as much as possible to industrialised our state, we are also mindful as we are bringing the investors we also treat our communities very well because at the end of the day we know that it will impact on the lives of our citizens.

“We are part of the resuscitation of Okitipupa Oil Palm Company after it became moribund and we are very happy with the results we have seen so far because it has the potential to transform the Southern part of our state in terms of employment opportunities for a lot of our youths and women.

“We have advised the association that brought the matter up to respect the office of the Mr. Governor, by suspending every other action until they hear back from him.

“As a matter of fact, the Ondo Southern part of the state needs serious investment and peace. We want to use this opportunity again to make our cases judiciously so that we can develop the state together.”