The dredgers at Era-Awori community in Ojo Local Government area of Lagos State have debunked the claim by the traditional ruler of the community, Chief Olumide Erinle, that they are operating illegally in the community, saying such claim is a falsehood and misleading.
The dredgers under the aegis of Dredgers Association of Nigeria, Era Awori Zone, refuted the claim at a joint news conference held in conjunction with the three of the four families, namely, Aganbi Ajanaku, Aluko, and Ajose, who lay claim to the community many years ago.
The dredgers said Baale Erinle distorted the fact when he claimed that he was neither aware when the dredging companies came to the community nor when they commenced operations at the community river called “Ologe Lagoon”.
They declared that they had been in the community and operating for over 11 years at Ologe River, wondering why Baale Erinle, who, according to them, remains one of the greatest beneficiaries of their activities before and after he emerged Baale of the town four years ago, would suddenly make a u-turn, denying their presence.
Recall that Baale Erinle and some few others in the community had in a recent media report denied knowledge of knowing when the dredging companies came into the community and also did not party to their authorisation to dredge at the Ologe River.
Baale also in the same report alleged the dredging companies operating without license from the relevant government agencies and also that their activities have caused a lot of damage to roads and water resources, especially fishes, urging government to chase them away.
The dredgers, however, in their rebuttal said they would not have bothered to react to all the Baale’s claims and allegations but for purpose of setting the record straight.
Speaking at the conference, the secretary of the dredgers association of the zone, Mr. Dipeolu Ibrahim, gave insight into their operations and their engagement with the community landlords.
He said, “When we came to the community, we engaged with the Era Elder-in-Council, which they told us was the highest decision-making organ for the community.
“We entered into agreement with the council and a committee was set up for implementation. Part of our agreement was that we would be paying certain levies and dues periodically and that we would also be contributing to the community development projects at least as part of our social responsibilities.
“We complied with these and even went beyond the terms and conditions by opening up the only road that links the community to the Lagos-Badagry Expressway and also maintaining it frequently until recently because of lull patronage.
“So, we had been doing that with no crisis until the current Baale was installed about four years ago and unilaterally dissolved the existing committee to pave way for his self- constituted committee in replacement and began to make excessive demands from us.”
Dipeolu pointed out that it was when they objected to the various levies imposed by the new committee on them that Baale rose against them, calling them illegal dredgers.
“We let him realise that business is dull and we won’t make more sales again because of the general economic crisis in the country, yet he didn’t listen and instead harassed and threatening to chase us away.
“His committee just wants us to pay any levy imposed on us without complaining and that cannot happen if we are to remain in business.
“So, it is Baale Erinle’s handedness that is causing this crisis and we can only ask him to let peace reign. He knows for sure that we’re not illegal dredgers.”
One of the representatives of the other three founding families of the community,
Mr. Noah Ajanaku, confirmed the dredgers’ position, saying it was absolutely true.
He disclosed that the portion of the land and water where the dredgers are carrying out their activities do not belong to the Baale’s lineage but to the other three families.
He said they, who are the rightful owners of the portion of the land do not bother about Baale’s controlling just because he is the traditional leader of the entire community.
Nevertheless, Ajanaku said the three families needed to put the record straight going by the misinformation Baale Erinle has already put in the public domain.
