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Chinwendu Nnadozie
Diko community in Gurara Local Government Area (LGA), Niger state have invoked the spirits of their fore fathers to protect their lands from the state Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago who had concluded plans so give out the farm lands to an Abuja Steel Company for an industrial Solar farm.
The community, mostly male youths in their numbers took to the streets, chanting anti-government protest songs with accompanying masquerade, a symbol of ancestral influence in rejecting forceful acquisition of about 500 hectares of their farmlands by Governor Bago purportedly for the establishment of industrial Solar farm.
Findings indicated that the locals had about six months ago noticed that the said company’s workers attempted to prospect solid minerals in the area contrary to what the Governor had publicly declared that the land was to be used for.
Also recently some of the company’s mining equipments were seized and threafter deposited with the police, only for the same equipment to be released to them barely two weeks after, this according to investigations futher raised the curiosity of the farming communities.
One of the locals had told our correspondent in confidence that with the discoveries, the state government cannot be trusted as unfolding events paints picture of deceitfulness capable of causing regrets on the part of Dikko people.
By selling dummy of farming plans while in actual sense intending to allegedly carry out mining activities at the detriment of the people, the community decided to evolve their own strategies, including invoking their forefathers to protect their lands against all forms of encroachment.
A resident of Dikko simply identified as Aishatu, who witnessed the unfolding drama, said it is disheartening for the Bago led All Progressive Congress (APC) administration to be involved in dishonest deal against citizens he is under oath to protect their interests at all times.
Ignoring the welfare and wellbeing of the people especially the poor and down trodden in the state, she said should have been one of the topmost needs the government should have championed, but instead decended low to engage in a deal that is capable of depriving the people of their sources of livelihood.
The protesters; youths, men, women and the community masquerade went to the exact venue/spot where Governor Bago handed over the land to the company to press home their demands of rejecting and demanding for reversal of the deal with chants of, ‘Ba ma so, ba ma yi’ while the masquerades in their local dirge move round the marked areas to physically demonstrare that their ancestors denial of the land about to be confiscated by the state government.
They however pleaded with the Governor Bago led government to in the interest of peace, have a rethink on the decision to confisticate and hand over not less than 500 hectres of land for Abuja Steel Mills Limited Solar Farm.
Losing such large acres of farm lands to a company whose purpose for the space is unclear, the people argued is not unacceptable and should be reversed with immediate effect for peace to reign.
Recall that the Bago led APC government in Niger state promised to prioritize agriculture and food security, but all the promises seemed to be more of mere paper work as there are little or no deliberate ploy to fully implement the said agricultural policies and programmes.
Three years into the administration, Nigerlites are worried that almost none of the promises have not translated into quality and affordable food sufficiency in the state.
