Oyo community begs Makinde to halt demolition of ancestral village

By Adejayan Gbenga

Residents and indigenes of Olope Metta village in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State have appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to halt the planned demolition of their ancestral homes.

The appeal followed a seven-day demolition notice served on the community by the Oyo State Ministry of Works on Monday. The notice has sparked fear and anxiety among the villagers, who claim that their heritage and homes are at risk of being completely wiped out.

In a “Save-Our-Soul” letter jointly signed by the Akinyele family spokesman, Kamardin Ayotunde, and the Secretary, Moshood Tiamiyu, the residents called on Governor Makinde to intervene and prevent the destruction of their village. A copy of the letter was made available to Western Post in Ibadan on Wednesday.

“We are the true indigenes of Olope Metta. This village is our origin, and now they are trying to push us out of our ancestral land,” the letter read in part. “The markings done this time are more extensive than the previous ones. Now, virtually all the houses in our village have been marked for demolition.”

The community recalled that earlier road expansion projects did not affect their village, noting that previous construction efforts placed road pillars outside the community. However, they lamented that the current plan involves demolishing every home within the village.

“If this goes ahead, we will be rendered homeless and stripped of our heritage,” they warned.

The villagers also expressed frustration that a significant portion of their land had already been lost during the construction of the new Oyo-Ibadan Expressway. With the remaining section now under threat, they fear complete displacement from their ancestral roots.

They appealed to the state government to either halt the planned demolition, relocate them, or provide alternative land. “We are appealing to the government not to wipe this village outright. If they take over the remaining part, how do we prove that we are indigenes of this land?” they asked.