Daud Olatunji
Residents of Ewekoro Town in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State have disowned a protest allegedly staged against H.B.M Nigeria Plc, Ewekoro Plant, calling on Governor Dapo Abiodun and security agencies to intervene to prevent a possible escalation of tensions in the community.
The residents, comprising women and youths, staged a counter-rally on Friday, displaying placards to reaffirm their position on the town’s traditional leadership and administrative affiliation.
Some of the inscriptions read, “Baale Suraju Olatunde Adebowale is our Baale in Ewekoro Town”; “The Olowu of Owu Kingdom is the authority over Ewekoro Town”; “Ewekoro Town is under Papalanto Ward”; and “Ewekoro Town is under Owu Kingdom.”
Speaking on behalf of the community, Adebowale Adeola Abdulrahmon said the residents neither authorised nor participated in the July 21 incident involving the blockage of the company’s gate.
He also denied that the community was involved in any court action against the company, urging the Ogun State Government and the police to intervene before the disagreement escalated into a broader crisis.
“We are not part of it; we didn’t authorise it,” Abdulrahmon said.
He maintained that Ewekoro Town had historically been under Papalanto Ward and recognised the Olowu of Owu Kingdom as its traditional authority.
The community representative also dismissed allegations that the Olowu, Oba Saka Matemilola, was withholding funds meant for the community from H.B.M Nigeria Plc, describing the claims as false and baseless.
According to him, the community is interested in maintaining a peaceful relationship with the company to sustain development initiatives and other benefits residents believe could improve their welfare.
“We are for peace and we are for development. They have supported us so far, and they still have more to do for us. So, as a result, we want peace and let the continuity of the development continue,” he said.
Abdulrahmon urged the state government to summon those allegedly responsible for the earlier action and ensure that any dispute involving the community and the company was addressed through lawful channels.
“The government has to call them to order because what they did initially, we are not part of it and we are not in support of it,” he said.
He added that the government should intervene to ensure that the actions taken by those involved did not further inflame tensions in the town.
On the role of the police, Abdulrahmon appealed to security operatives to invite the parties involved so that the community could formally communicate its position and distance itself from the disputed action.
“What we want is, if the police are going to intervene in this matter, they should try as much as possible to help us to invite them, so that we should be able to tell them we are not in support of what they just did or demonstrated of recent,” he said.
The residents also disowned an individual they alleged was parading himself as an Olori-Odo, insisting that the community did not endorse his actions. They further denied involvement in any alleged court case against H.B.M Nigeria Plc.
The community’s position, as presented by Abdulrahmon, is that Ewekoro Town falls under Papalanto Ward and the traditional authority of the Olowu of Owu Kingdom.
The residents called on the state government and security agencies to facilitate dialogue among the relevant parties, protect peace in the area and ensure that disagreements over traditional leadership, community representation and relations with the company were resolved through lawful means..
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