By Foluso Adelaja, Editor
Residents and indigenes of Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State have accused the Olowu of Owu, Oba Saka Matemilola, of allegedly fuelling a crisis in the area in pursuit of what they described as his personal interests.
The communities, comprising about 12 villages and towns, also accused the monarch of allegedly supporting HBM Nigeria Plc, formerly Lafarge Africa Plc, in what they described as a high-handed community relations policy which they claimed was detrimental to their welfare.
The allegations were made during a protest held at the entrance of the HBM Nigeria cement plant in Ewekoro, where traditional leaders, youths and students of Ewekoro Grammar School, some of them in their school uniforms, gathered to express their grievances.
For over an hour, the protesters displayed placards bearing various inscriptions detailing their grievances, while chanting slogans and temporarily preventing vehicles doing business with the company from entering or leaving the premises.
The protesters alleged that the activities of the cement company had negatively impacted their environment and health, claiming that the Olowu had allegedly lent his support to the company’s position on matters affecting the communities.
They further accused the monarch of allegedly attempting to install what they described as a parallel Baale in the area, purportedly using the Onipapa of Papa as a proxy.
In a statement read by the Youth Community Leader, Prince Quadri Oluwasemilore, the communities said their forebears had lived peacefully in the area before the discovery of limestone and the establishment of the cement plant.
According to them, the situation changed following the commencement of industrial activities, which they alleged had subjected residents to persistent environmental and health challenges.
The communities claimed that emissions of smoke and dust from the cement plant had contributed to illnesses and untimely deaths in the area, while their proximity to the facility continued to threaten their health, livelihoods and general well-being.
They also alleged that the cement company had, in the past, provided an annual grant to the affected communities as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of its operations, but claimed that the benefit had now been stopped following alleged intervention by the Olowu.
The protesters described the development as a further burden on the communities, arguing that residents were already bearing what they described as the environmental and health consequences of living close to the cement plant.
They therefore called for what they described as an urgent halt to the alleged activities of the Olowu in Ewekoro, particularly those allegedly being carried out through the Onipapa of Papa.
The communities also accused the monarch of alleged involvement in what they described as “intensive land-grabbing activities” in the area, claiming that such actions were aimed at asserting authority over a community where, according to them, he had no jurisdiction.
They appealed to the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, to intervene in the matter and, according to them, call the Olowu to order.
The protesters further demanded the immediate withdrawal of an alleged letter written by the Olowu to the cement company seeking to stop benefits accruing to the communities from the company.
They argued that the withdrawal of the benefits would amount to “double punishment”, insisting that the communities were already bearing the environmental and health burdens which they attributed to the factory’s operations.
Also speaking during the protest, a community leader, Chief Oloyede Musedik, the Ekerin of Akinbo, called on HBM Nigeria Plc to address the deteriorating condition of a secondary school built for the communities.
Chief Musedik alleged that the school had been abandoned for a long period following an order purportedly issued by the Olowu.
Responding to the protesters, the company’s Community Relations Officer, Engineer Yomi, assured them that the issues raised would be presented to and addressed by the management.
He explained that the company had made efforts to meet with the Olowu to discuss some of the issues raised by the communities, but said the monarch was unavailable at the time.
The protest ended after the company representative’s assurance that the grievances would receive the attention of the management.
As of the time of filing this report, the Olowu of Owu, Oba Saka Matemilola, had not publicly responded to the allegations made by the Ewekoro communities.
However, a palace chief said the monarch’s response would be made public soon.
