A former Chairman of Akoko South West Local Government in Ondo State, Augustine Oloruntogbe, has declined his appointment as a member of the Ondo State Cocoa Revolution and Management Board.
Oloruntogbe, who had served as Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, in the state, declined the appointment in a letter addressed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Aiyedatiwa had on Friday approved the constitution of the Ondo State Cocoa Revolution and Management Board as part of commitment to reposition agriculture as a key driver of the state’s economy.
Oloruntogbe in the letter stated that he would not be able to serve due to pressing personal and professional commitments that would not allow him to give the assignment the full attention it deserves.
Meanwhile, the former council chairman used the opportunity of his rejection letter to draw the governor’s attention to what he described as urgent grievances from farmers in the state.
According to him, cocoa farmers within the Ose Game Reserve have alleged that as much as N150,000 is being collected from each farmer into a private account, with no official receipt issued for such payments.
Oloruntogbe urged the state government to investigate the allegations and ensure that all levies and payments within the cocoa value chain are transparent, properly documented, and channelled through official government accounts.
He further noted that addressing the issue would protect cocoa farmers and strengthen public confidence in the ongoing reforms under the state’s Cocoa Revolution Agenda.
“After careful reflection and consultation, I
