Ogun State House of Assembly, yesterday, extolled the virtues of late Madam Lucia Onabanjo, the wife of the first Civilian Governor of the State, Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, describing her as a strong pillar who contributed immensely to the developmental strides recorded in the State between 1979 and 1983.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide led his colleague-lawmakers to pay tribute to the former first lady, shortly after announcing the death of the matriarch, who died last week at the age of 100.

Elemide described the deceased as a woman of virtue and strong moral character, noting that she stood solidly behind her husband and played a supportive and stabilising role during his administration.

The State lawmakers later observed a minute’s silence in honour of the late Onabanjo.

In another development, Ogun State House of Assembly passed a Resolution calling on the State Government to liaise with the Federal Government and the military hierarchy to explore the possibility of providing the military with an alternative shooting range, in view of recent developments in Apunren-Ijebu community

The assembly stated this in bid to find a lasting solution to the alleged land encroachment by officers of the Nigerian Army, Sappers Barracks, Ilese, which affects Apunren-Ijebu and adjoining communities in Ijebu East Local Council

The passage of the resolution followed the presentation of the report of the House Committee of the whole House by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Bolanle Lateefat Ajayi, who thereafter moved the motion for its adoption, seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon. Lukman Adeleye, and unanimously supported by members through a voice vote, during the plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The report partly read, “The lingering land dispute between the Nigerian Army and the Communities of Apunren-Ijebu and Ijebu-Mushin, both within the council had persisted for approximately five (5) decades.

According to the spokesperson of the communities, Major General Odunsi Samson (Rtd.), who is the Jagunmolu of Ijebu-Imusin, the dispute originated in 1977 following a military decree issued for the establishment of military barracks across various States in Nigeria.

Apunren-Ijebu and Ijebu-Mushin were reportedly designated as part of the proposed locations for such establishments. He added that the affected area comprises sixteen (16) Communities, which have coexisted peacefully for over Six Hundred (600) years, and are home to long-standing historical and social institutions, including schools, churches, mosques, hospitals, markets, and other communal facilities”.

The report further states that, “The land dispute largely resulted from the failure to properly document and gazette the earlier decision that reduced the portion of land allocated to the Nigerian Army from the initial 1,820 acres to one-tenth of it.

Officers of the Nigerian Army have commenced extensive occupation of several host communities within Apunren-Ijebu and Ijebu-Mushin. There was evidence of ongoing demolition of residential buildings, encroachment on farmlands, and destruction of historical and cultural landmarks, including religious institutions, schools, traditional institutions, and sacred sites such as graves and shrines.

Fresh land markings indicating areas earmarked for further demolition were observed. Old boundary pillars erected to demarcate the originally acquired military land were still visible in some locations”.

The report therefore recommended that the State Government should engage relevant senior military authorities to review and reconsider the decision reached earlier by the panel and establish appropriate mechanisms to prevent further military encroachment into the affected villages.

Following the passage of the resolution, the Speaker directed the Clerk of the House to forward copies of the report and its recommendations to the State Governor, and other concerned stakeholders, including the Federal Ministries, the Leadership of the National Assembly, Heads of Security Formations, especially the Nigerian Army, for necessary action.