Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Friday, said the destroyers of his 17,000 hectares farmland in Benue State cannot deter him from further investment in the state.
In January, arsonists burnt down the mango plantation located at Hawe in Aliade area of Gwer East Local Government, following probable disagreements with the locals over compensation for the piece of land that originally belonged to the state government.
The Chairman of the Gwer East LGA, Emmanuel Ortserga, who confirmed the incident described it as a deliberate sabotage, disclosed that four people had been arrested in connection with the crime.
But Obasanjo on Friday played host to a delegation from Benue State and the community, where the farm is located, at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The former President said the world should not judge Benue by action of those he described as few miscreants, who burnt his farm.
Obasanjo declared that the burning of the 17000 mango tree plantation would not deter his investment in the state, as he would bounce back and increase the direct workforce from meagre 150 to 1000 plus.
A statement by Obasanjo’s Media Aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, quoted the former President as saying the incident was the handiwork of few miscreants, an action contrary to the true reflection of the people of Benue State.
“This action by this few misdirected miscreants should not be judged by the world. It is not the true reflection of the people of Benue. The action should not scare away investors, because Benue people are very accommodating and friendly,” Obasanjo said.
“The land was acquired long ago and payment made for the lease of the land. If the government has not paid any compensation to any family or that they have not been adequately compensated, burning of the farm, was not the best to do.
“You have said it yourself that the farm employed about 150 workers before it was burnt. Our plan was for the project to provide at least 1,000 persons directly, both on the farm and when the processing factory takes off.
“What has happened, was not a loss to we investors alone but to the 150 that were working on the farm before it was burnt and the people that we intend to engage in the processing factory, that had been delayed now even with the level of unemployment in the country.
“The governor did everything to make the project a reality. What they have burnt, was a pilot project for what we have in mind if things work well.
“The governor , the Tor Tiv, the Bishop and other notable leaders and stakeholders, had empathised with us, they had intervened and had assured us that justice would be served.
“What has happened is not in the character of the people of Benue and particularly, the community, where the farm is located.
“You have said that you need Investment in the state either from within or outside the state. Therefore, the world should not judge Benue by this act of few disgruntled element that perpetrated this act.
“Let me assure you that we are not going to leave the area. We are looking at what we can do when the rain starts. The project, will only be delayed but we shall improve on what we have on ground.
“The government had promised us the possibility of giving us more land and this will give us opportunity for bigger plantation.”
The delegation, led by Akpe had the House of Assembly member representing Gwer East Constituriency, Hon Geoffrey Agbatse, Chairman Gwer East Local Government, Hon Ortserga Emmanuel, among others.
