The Ogun State Government has come under fire after a new court order prevented the administration from acquiring land in Ilara, a Remo community.
The injunction, which was issued on the 26th of August, 2025, has sparked lots of reactions from critics who have repeatedly accused the Dapo Abiodun-led government of running a “land-grabbing administration.”
Alleging that Dapo Abiodun’s policies have reduced their authority by taking away their ancestral lands, community heads and traditional rulers have revealed that the people of Remo are currently uncertain about the future of their territory.
Residents of Irolu, a community in Remo, have cried out against the government-supported purchases taking over their lands.
“There is no land to rule over anymore,” a palace source disclosed, reiterating the frustrations of monarchs who feel undermined by Dapo Abiodun’s actions.
Highlighting the mysterious network of companies through which these lands are bought, critics believe that the organizations are merely fronting for powerful figures in government who wish to disguise themselves as corporate firms to acquire communal properties.
Observers have said that something fishy must be going on for the procurement of contracts in Ogun State to be so secretive.
Civil society groups and opposition figures have accused Dapo Abiodun of using his power as Governor to strip communities of their lands under the guise of development. They blasted the governor for focusing on treating lands like a political community instead of uplifting the welfare of Ogun indigenes.
The new Ilara ruling further raises questions about Dapo Abiodun’s respect for the rule of law, traditional institutions, and the people who trusted him with his current position.
Political analysts insisted that while development is key, Dapo Abiodun’s administration prefers to annexe lands rather than engage communities in dialogue.
Many Ogun State indigenes are of the opinion that the issue is beyond land. They are against Gov. Abiodun’s stubbornness, disrespect for tradition, and failure to safeguard the cultural and economic heritage of his people.
With the judiciary preventing the Ilara acquisition, observers have predicted massive legal resistance across Ogun as more communities might summon the courage to challenge the government’s suspicious craving for lands.
We’ll find out if the legal warning will be enough for Dapo Abiodun to take a step back or if he’ll keep proving that his administration is in the interest of everyone but the people.
