*As occupiers defend acquisition

97-year-old widow from Kwara State, Saadatu Mamade Bello-Belukor, has taken her call for help to President Bola Tinubu; the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, seeking their intervention over some expanse of land she claims belongs to her, but which has been allegedly acquired without compensation to her.

She appealed to them to assist her get compensation for the land, adding that spirited efforts by her and her son, Ibitola Soneye, made to concerned authorities, agencies, entities and companies to be paid were fruitless.

The land, according to her, is located in Ilorin, Kwara State and in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, identifying herself as the daughter of Alhaji Bello Belukor, who happened to be one of the past Balogun Alanamu of Ilorin Emirate, who she said left the land for her as inheritance.

She alleged that portions of the land had been acquired by the Kwara State Government, federal institutions, companies, including Mt Olive Nigeria Limited and individuals.

According to her, she did not receive any compensation for the land.

She lamented that she had been subjected to untold and unbearable hardship as a result of the acquisition of the land and alleged non-compensation to her, adding that she could barely feed and did not have money for her medical care.

Reacting to the plea, Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Legal Matters, Ambassador Sambo Muritala, said other people had substantial ownership evidence of the land that Saadatu Belukor claimed ownership.

Muritala said: “I had earlier met the woman before this government and I told her that she had nothing reasonable to back up his ownership of almost one-fifth of Ilorin because his late father was a Balogun in Ilorin. The places she is laying claim to are owned by people who have strong evidence to back their ownership as against hers.

“As a true Ilorin woman, she should understand the concept of Ilorin emirate enough to say she is coming to claim the land after over a hundred years. I advised her to get a knowledgeable lawyer who will explain that her story is so weak that no court will have anything.”

The Chairman, Mt Olive Nigeria Limited, Oba Julius Adeola Ajibola, said he legally acquired the land where his companies are situated, duly paid appropriate compensations

He spoke in a conference call also involving Soneye.

Oba Ajibola said he had been in possession of the land for about 14 years and wondered why she and her son suddenly claimed that her land was among the properties he was in possession of.

Efforts to get the response of the Christian organisation proved abortive as some of the representatives of the organisation declined to make official comments.