Ogun: Ewekoro Residents Disown Protest Against Company, Call For Abiodun’s Intervention
By Alliyat Olatunji
ABEOKUTA – Residents of Ewekoro town in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State have dissociated themselves from a protest that reportedly led to the blockage of the gate of H.B.M Nigeria Plc, Ewekoro Plant, on Wednesday July 21, urging Governor Dapo Abiodun and security agencies to intervene to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
The residents, comprising women and youths, staged a counter-rally on Friday, displaying placards affirming their support for their community’s traditional leadership and rejecting any attempt to associate them with the earlier protest or legal action against the company.
Some of the placards 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 during the rally, a community representative, Adebowale Adeola Abdulrahmon, said the residents neither participated in nor authorised the Wednesday July 21 protest that allegedly disrupted activities at the company’s premises.
“We are not part of it; we didn’t authorise it,” Abdulrahmon said, appealing to the state government and the police to intervene and prevent the dispute from escalating.
He maintained that Ewekoro town had historically been under Papalanto Ward and was subject to the traditional authority of the Olowu of Owu Kingdom.
Abdulrahmon also rejected allegations that Oba Saka Matemilola, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, was withholding community funds from H.B.M Nigeria Plc, describing the claims as false and baseless.
According to him, the community remains committed to peaceful coexistence and continued development through its relationship with the company.
“We are for peace and development. They have supported us so far, and they still have more to do for us. As a result, we want peace and for the continuity of development,” he said.
The community representative called on the Ogun State government to caution those allegedly responsible for the earlier protest, insisting that their actions did not reflect the position of the people of Ewekoro town.
