Residents of Glorious community Iyana Emirin along the Federal Polytechnic road, in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital on Wednesday protested the locking of their various houses and residences allegedly by the Edemo family. This community protest highlights the residents’ struggle against unjust actions.
The community landlords and House owners also sent a “Save Our Soul” (SOS) message to governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji over the threat of the Edemo family to forcefully demolish the over 100 houses in the community.
The protest against the Edemo family’s actions was a courageous stand by the community, uniting everyone as they faced adversity together.
Community Protest Against Injustice
Community protests like this are essential in advocating for residents’ rights and drawing attention to injustices.
The affected residents trooped out in their large numbers to protest the invasion of the community by members of the Aduloju Edemo family who went on rampage by padlocking houses, shops and uncompleted buildings over family issues which they were not a party to.
Such protests are necessary to ensure that the voices of the affected residents are heard loud and clear.
They claimed the invaders came when most of the people had gone to work leaving behind children and elderly people who were initially scared thinking the community was under attack by kidnappers.
The residents who carried placards with words written on them converged at the entrance of the community chanting solidarity songs and called on the state governor, and other concerned authorities to come to their rescue.
Through this protest, residents are calling for justice and a resolution to their plight.
Some of the placards read : ” Governor Oyebanji save our houses, Our houses should not be made as scapegoat for family fued”
Others also read, ” we should not be collateral damage in family disputes, we are law abiding citizens, Ewi please call Aduloju and Fajemilua family to order” amongst others.
The Chairman of community Dr. Femi Olowookere who spoke with journalists said they were shocked on Tuesday when some group of people who claimed to be allegedly from the Edemo family stormed the community with security operatives and started locking up peoples houses claiming the land belongs to them.
This protest demonstrates the resolve of the community to stand against oppression and seek support from the authorities.
He said, ” They came with Chains and Padlocks and making it impossible for us to go into our houses, we have to go and sleep in our friends and families houses after we managed to get home in that heavy rain only to find our doors and gates locked without any prior notice.
Many families joined the protest to show their solidarity and demand an end to these unlawful actions.
” This is very very unfair as we paid and obtained all necessary documents before taking possession and started our buildings.”
Dr Olowookere also alleged that some Elderly people and those who were sick were unable to go to the hospital for their treatment as they were locked inside their homes.
He therefore called on Governor Oyebanji, the deputy governor Mrs Monisade Afuye, the Senator representing Ekiti Central Constituency Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti His Royal Majesty Oba Aladesanmi Adejugbe III to prevail on the Edemo families to stop the constant threats and harassment.
The ongoing protest reflects the community’s determination to protect their homes from unjust threats.
” We hereby appeal to everybody concerned to kindly looked into our plight as we should not be the casualties of two siblings who are at logger heads, we are not a party to the disagreements between Aduloju and Fajemilua who are even brothers” he concluded.
On her part , Mrs Bamigboye Funmilayo expressed dissapointment at the commando style used by the Edemo family stating that their living at Glorious community was not by accident.
” we did not come here by accident, we paid all what we are asked to pay and we have our documents to back up our buildings here and so we find it absurd that the warring families will just come and be threatening us that our houses are about to be demolished and they locked up our houses, we have little children and some of them were locked inside and you can imagine how scared the children are thinking they were kidnappers this is not fair,” she said.
They emphasize that the protest is not just about homes but also the safety and well-being of their families.
An Elderly woman who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the families of Edemo and Fajemilua the two families warring over the possession of the lands have put the people of the community into pains and untold hardship.
She said the Fajemilua’s who are siblings to the Aduloju’s will come and threaten them that they are the righful owners with court papers and after negotiations the family of Edemo Aduloju will also come with another sticker that they are the rightful owners of the land leaving the residents in total confusion.
” We have paid and paid before building our houses here even registering the community with the Ado local government authority and now that the community has developed they now want to demolish our houses, this is not fair the government should not let our efforts go into the drain, ” she pleaded.
It was reported that the family fued of the Edemo and Fajemilua are locked in supremacy battles over who has total authority over the land, a development which has caused the residents of the community constant fear of losing their hard earned built homes and buildings.
Ultimately, this protest represents a fight against the turmoil caused by the Edemo and Fajemilua families.
