The Agunbiade family from Isale-Afon in Ogbomoso has once again called on the Oyo State government to settle a longstanding debt: compensation for ancestral land taken to establish the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).
A Three-Decade Wait for Justice
In a recent statement delivered by family spokesman Chief Adewole Adesina, the family revealed that their land, alongside properties belonging to others, was acquired by the former Oyo State government around 1990. This was for the specific purpose of founding LAUTECH. More than thirty years later, the original landowners are still waiting for any form of payment.
The family stated that approximately 400 acres of their ancestral inheritance were affected by the compulsory acquisition. They emphasized that this land was a legacy passed down through generations, and its loss has inflicted profound and lasting economic hardship and emotional distress on the entire family.
Contrast with Osun State's ₦8 Billion Compensation
The family's appeal is now directed at the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde. Their plea has gained renewed urgency following reports that Osun State received about ₦8 billion as compensation after the joint ownership of LAUTECH was dissolved in 2020.
This development has raised serious questions about equity. The Agunbiade family argues that if one government entity can be rightfully compensated, then fairness and justice must also prevail for private families whose lands were taken for public use. They expressed bewilderment as to why host communities and the original landowners have been overlooked for decades.
Fulfilled Requirements, Unfulfilled Promises
The family further disclosed that they have meticulously complied with all stipulations set by the Oyo State Ministry of Lands in their quest for compensation. According to them, they have:
- Conducted a proper and official survey of the land.
- Submitted a formal application for compensation.
- Provided a comprehensive list of economic trees and other assets destroyed or affected by the acquisition.
Based on official assessments conducted through these processes, the family estimates the current value of their acquired land to be around ₦2 billion. Despite fulfilling every listed requirement, their efforts have hit a wall, a situation they find deeply disheartening.
The family's statement ended with an emotional appeal: “We are praying and pleading that Governor Seyi Makinde should pay us our due compensation. Some of our family members have died since we renewed our request. Government should not allow their efforts and hopes to be in vain.” This highlights the human cost of the prolonged delay, framing it as a matter of urgent moral and administrative responsibility.
