Iperu Youth Development Association has called on Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, not to create unnecessary rivalry between Iperu and Ilishan communities over the proposed Gateway Cargo Airport.
The association added that 85 per cent of the land earmarked for the project belonged to Iperu.
The association in a statement signed by its youth leader, Azeez Akinbowale, urged the governor to urgently address the issue about to cause unhealthy conflict between the two communities.
The Association stated that the Gateway Cargo Airport land belonged to Iperu community stressing that Orubo Family land now being cleared with caterpillar was located in Iperu Remo and not in Ilishan.
The association stated that the judgement of an Ogun State High Court, delivered on October 10, 2021 by Justice N.I Saula in suit NO HCS/123/2002 Ope Osu & others Vs Jonathan Famodu & others confirmed that the land being cleared belonged to Orubo family.
It added that the court had declared that from the totality of the evidence before the court, the plaintiffs proved their entitlement to a deemed land of occupancy over the Orubo farm being Iperu along Iperu Ilishan road.
Justice Saula was said to have, in his judgment clearly declared that “no glaring evidence of government acquisition of the land in dispute was placed before the court. None of the defendant’s witnesses was able to produce the notice of frevocation of the right to the land.”
The association urged Governor Abiodun to consider the judgement in order to avoid communal strife and unrest over the location and identity of the project.
While not contesting the fact that the acquired land for the proposed site for the Cargo Airport cuts across Iperu, Ilara, and Ilishan, the association maintained that almost 85 per cent of acquired land by then executive governor of Ogun, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, belonged to Iperu community.
The statement added that the land was acquired from Isalu farm area, Iragbon farm area, Aromamu land, Orubo community down to Ugboti Maja, covering back of Ishanbi High School.
The statement reads: “It has come to our notice and attention, the politics peddling around on the ceding of the project execution of the Gateway Cargo Airport to Ilishan community rather than Iperu Community.
“We sincerely appreciate the then Executive Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel for this great initiative then in 2007 when the project was pictured.
“Our gratitude will not be completed without commending the efforts of the present Executive Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency, Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun, placing more priority in execution of the Gateway Cargo Airport during his tenure. You are true definition of leadership. We sincerely appreciate you sir.”
