The case of the Land in dispute is still in court and the court has stopped Redeem from continuing with the construction why are they still raising fund for such? Hypocrisy IN THE NAME OF GOD at the highest level.....See my reasons below
Villagers Cry Out Over Annexure by Redeemed Church
Daniels Ekugo
In a bid to build the largest church auditorium in the world, The Redeemed Christian Church of God may be heading towards serious disputes as 9 villages has petitioned to international organizations, media houses, corporate organizations and the court in Nigeria over the annexation and displacement of villagers by the church.
The over 300 families living at Agunforye, Ososanya, Isaga Kekere, Isaga Nla, Ebute Agbara, Pagbo, Igbonla Adeleye, Igbonla akinremi and Olaparun villages in Makun area of Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State made this known in a statement signed by various representatives of the communities.
In the statement, Hon Oladele Benjamin Adisa, speaking on behalf of the 9 villages, said “The affected families are the 3rd, 4th and 5th generations of the earliest settlers in the 9 villages over 200 years ago on the vast land purportedly acquired by the church, which is claimed as owners by Otetumo Agbabo Shoole Agufon and Ososanya families of Itunmeko area in Ikorodu, Lagos state with Pastor Amos Oshin and Chief Sikiru Ososanya as the heads of the two families respectively.”
On the annexure of their land, Adisa explained that “In a suit filed in Court 3 Sagamu HCS/105/14 by the said land owners against the church on illegal encroachment as they have exceeded the acquisition of 1,900 acres sold to them, of which the church agreed to, it was however noticed that the church has already exceeded the boundaries sold to them to the tune of almost 4,000 acres. Immediately this was noticed, the church went in for the kill the next day, demolishing properties, cash and food crops which are the principal source of income for the villagers.”
Speaking further, Adisa in a pathetic mood said “We lost everything. We just want
them to stick to the initial 1,900 acres. Now, come to think of it, the only public primary school in the community, known as Local Government Primary School Agunfoye Remo was demolished denying the children in the 9 villages the opportunity to attend school for the 2014/15 academic year. This unfortunate situation was reported to the Ogun State Governor, Commissioner of Education and State Primary Education Board in Abeokuta.”
them to stick to the initial 1,900 acres. Now, come to think of it, the only public primary school in the community, known as Local Government Primary School Agunfoye Remo was demolished denying the children in the 9 villages the opportunity to attend school for the 2014/15 academic year. This unfortunate situation was reported to the Ogun State Governor, Commissioner of Education and State Primary Education Board in Abeokuta.”
The crux of the petition however in addition to the annexure of their land, Adisa said “It is illegal for a church to displace the 9 villages in a reckless manner. The only road that links the 9 villages with Simawa-Sagamu has been blocked. Immediately after the blockage, entrapping the entire villages, they quickly constructed a road that leads to the auditorium under construction with a signboard mounted at the entrance of the road on which PRIVATE ROAD, No TRESPASS was bolding written showing that the villagers have no free access to their various houses”.
When PM News visited the communities, there was no access road to the villages unless you find your way through the construction site and then to most villages that have been trapped without light or water.
Adisa conducting the media round the villages affirmed that “The electric wires, poles and transformers that supplied electricity to the 9 villages were dismantled and carried away leaving the area in darkness and also denying the people to enjoy social amenities provided by the government. Markets, Community sheds in front of the Local Government School Agunfoye – Remo were also demolished. The old and new buildings of Zion African Church Agunfoye set up in 1925 by the earliest settlers, Cemetries and all graves in the 9 villages were demolished.”
Confirming the discretion of their cultural antiquities, Adisa said “Traditional shrines in the 9 villages namely Igboro known as Igboti; Ogun Ajobo known as Ijasi Ilu, Oju Iroko, Oju Oluweri, Irele Awopa, Igbodu Ifa and Kuso known as Igunnuba were part of the demolition amidst gun-weilding policemen and touts from the church.”
Collaborating the incidents, Soyinka Albert Ola; Ajibode Oluniyi; Taiwo Alan Ogunleye; Ayinde Kamorudeen; Wasiu Ogunleye; Ganiyu Karimu, Adekunle Akibu and Adekunle Adegbola, severally within the context affirmed that “Because we don’t want any fracas, we have been living peacefully here until this annexture of our communities began. As at the month of June, 16 among the villagers had died due to starvation since their principal source of income had been ruined while many are in sickness due to hunger and cannot get out of the village. It can interest you to note that since the last 6 months, agents and representatives of the church have been coming to the villages aforementioned with police officers in mulfti carrying guns and using vehicles without plate numbers to terrorise the villagers to vacate the land, promising to expel everyone the next time. And we are not sure what will happen to the rest of us, we are appealing to everyone, to come to our aid and ask the church to stick to their 1,900 acres.”
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