Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has urged the world not to judge the people of Benue State over the burning of his 17,000 mango tree plantation by miscreants in Gwer East Local Government area of the state.
Obasanjo stated that the burning of the farm would not deter his investment in the state because he would bounce back and increase the direct workforce from meagre 150 to 1000 plus.
He disclosed this, while playing host to a delegation from the community in the state where the farm is located, at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The ex-president, in a press release by his Media Aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, said that the burning of his farm on January, 29,2022, were the handiwork of a few miscreants, and not a true reflection of the Benue people.
The octogenarian, who lamented that the dastardly act, had only delayed the vision he had for the project, said that what had happened, was not the best for the community and the state
“This action by these few misdirected miscreants should not be judged by the world. It is not the true reflection of the people of Benue. The action should not scare away investors, because Benue people are very accommodating and friendly.”
“The land was acquired long ago and payment was made for the lease of the land. If the government has not paid any compensation to any family or that they have not been adequately compensated, burning the farm was not the best thing to do.”
“You have said it yourself that the farm employed about 150 workers before it was burnt. Our plan was for the project to provide at least 1,000 persons directly, both on the farm and when the processing factory takes off.
“What has happened was not a loss to us investors alone, but to the 150 that were working on the farm before it was burnt and the people that we intend to engage in the processing factory, that had been delayed now even with the level of unemployment in the country.
“The governor did everything to make the project a reality. What they have burnt, was a pilot project for what we have in mind if things work well.”
“The governor, the Tor Tiv, the Bishop and other notable leaders and stakeholders, had empathised with us, they had intervened and had assured us that justice would be served.
“What has happened is not in the character of the people of Benue and particularly, the community, where the farm is located.
“You have said that you need Investment in the state either from within or outside the state. Therefore, the world should not judge Benue by this act of a few disgruntled elements that perpetrated this act.”
“Let me assure you that we are not going to leave the area. We are looking at what we can do when the rain starts. The project will only be delayed, but we shall improve on what we have on ground.
“The government had promised us the possibility of giving us more land and this will give us an opportunity for a bigger plantation,” he added.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Dr Dominc Akpe, sympathised with Obasanjo on the incident, regretting that the incident happened, while promising to join hands in providing security around the farmland.
Akpe, who is also the Chairman of the Gwer East Traditional Council, noted that some of those that perpetrated the act, had been arrested, stating that others would be apprehended.
“We have come to appeal to you not to lose hope despite the arson. During the several meetings and discussions after the incident, it was obvious that we initially regarded the farm as yours and did not own it.
“We have now discovered its importance to us and have resolved to own it by providing security, regularly monitoring it and by holding regular meetings with the host community to ensure that what happened on the 29th January 22, never ever repeat itself.
“Moving forward, we have identified other parcels of land and when we are able to strike an agreement with the host communities, request you to expand the farm to other parts of the local government”,he stressed.
Other members of the delegation included the House of Assembly member representing Gwer East Constituency, Hon Geoffrey Agbatse, Chairman Gwer East Local Government, Hon Ortserga Emmanuel, among others, also sympathised with the former president, on the burning of his mango plantation in the state.
