The Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti State, Oba Adeola Ajakaye, has cautioned owners of the land acquired for the new Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti, against acts that can sabotage the takeoff of the institution.
Oba Ajakaye, who debunked the insinuation that part of the expanse of land was acquired for personal purposes, said such was cheap blackmail and malicious falsehood.
These were contained in a statement by the Oluyin-in-Council, signed by the Secretary, Chief Elejide Omobulejo, and made available in Ado Ekiti on Sunday.
The Oluyin-in-Council condemned the protest near the university site led by one of the landowners, where concern about compensation was raised alongside allegations that part of the land was acquired for selfish purposes, in collusion with the traditional ruler.
The council stated, “It is, however, necessary to say emphatically that the antics do great harm to the siting of the university we have all laboured for, especially as dialogue has not ceased on the matters being noted as points of discontent.
“We encourage all noble sons and daughters of lyin Ekiti to please seek the facts, verify and propagate across all platforms.
“Let us save the University of Technology and Environmental Sciences from interests that do not align with the development of our community”.
The Oluyin-in-Council assured owners whose land was acquired for the university of adequate compensation, saying that at the council’s meeting held late last month, “It was unanimously agreed that accreditation of crops on these plots of land should begin.
“This is to allow for proper compensation for the valuables on lands acquired.
“The rumour that the land being claimed is for personal gain is a lie. As of the end of July, three different contractors have been mobilised to the site.
“Buildings for four approved faculties (Natural and Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Computing and Information Technology, and Environmental Sciences) are already being built on the right side.
“For three other faculties that require already built facilities before approval – Medicine, Pharmacy and Nursing – excavations have begun on the left side to accommodate the needed buildings, in preparation for the visit of the regulatory bodies.
“No part of the land has been set aside for anything called ‘seed money’ as being peddled. The land has been judiciously earmarked for university use and not for anything else.
“The choice of Ilawe Road as the permanent site of the university was made as far as 2021, when the process of the university began, a fact known to all members of the community, contrary to recent insinuations.
“The land in question was both on the right and left sides, from the bulk of the land earlier earmarked over a decade ago for the then-proposed airport project.”
The Oluyin-in-Council stated that “dialogue is ongoing with the land owners on the land matter, with efforts geared towards achieving a win-win situation for everyone. As the leaders of the community, one cannot be discouraged by these unpatriotic and selfish actions.”
