Governor Adams Oshiomhole has stopped farmers currently farming in government reserved forest at Okada, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State from paying N40m annual royalty to Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin kingdom.
It was gathered that the land was leased to Chief Igbinedion who later sublet to individual farmers for a certain amount of money.
Chief Igbinedion, father of the former Governor of the state, Lucky Igbinedion, is widely known for his flamboyance.
Locals say he actually regards himself as an authority in the ancient state.
In 2008, his son was convicted of corruption after a 191 count charge initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He was later freed after the charges were astonishingly narrowed down to one after a plea bargain he entered into with the anti-graft commission.
Out of the billions he looted, Justice Abdul Tafarati of the Federal High Court in Enugu asked him to refund a paltry N3.5 million as a fine.
But speaking in his office when the Yoruba farmers paid him a courtesy visit, Governor Oshiomhole directed the farmers to stop the payment, saying the land has been recovered and reverted to the state government.
He said they risk eviction, if they continue to pay an individual such tax.
According to him, “As far as I know, there are only two custodians of land in Edo State. First, is that all land is vested in the state government; the second is the Oba of Benin by virtue of the fact of being the Oba of Benin and the history behind that institution as regards traditional ownership of land.
“As far as I know, government policy across the country is that Nigerians cannot be tenant farmers particularly on government-owned lands, because the land in question is government-owned that was reserved for an individual for the purpose of farming by himself, not to sublet to actual farmers who then pay royalties to him. The only person who can collect royalties in Edo State is the Oba of Benin.”
“What you are expected is to pay your personal income tax. Whether you are a Hausa man, an Igbo man, an Itsekiri man, an Ijaw and you live in the land area called Edo, you are not a second class citizen. Where you live you have the right to farm. And the money you make from you farming is your money; the only think that the law requires of you is to pay your personal income tax.
“So if you make as much as N10 million in income, we will assess your income tax on the basis of your earning but you cannot pay tax to individuals, no matter how highly placed. I as the governor cannot ask you to pay tax to me if I give you land to farm. That land is government land, and when I exercise my privileges as a governor, it doesn’t make me a governor, it doesn’t make me a landlord.
“Under no circumstance should you pay taxes to an individual and I warn that if you do, then we will evict you from that land. All those lands you are talking about have been recovered by the government of Edo State. That land is reserved, you are entitled to farm on it within the agreed rules and if any dues are to be paid, they will be paid directly to the treasury of Edo State Government.”
Spokesman of the Yoruba community in Okada, Opajobi Semiu, earlier informed the Governor that the five camps of the Yoruba community in Okada pay N40 million per annum to an individual who claims to be the owner of the government land.
Source: Daily Post
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