Aletile Family Reaffirms Ownership of Igila Farmland

The Aletile Family of Igila in Atakunmosa West Local Government Area, Osun State, has reaffirmed its ancestral ownership of the Igila Farmland—formerly known as Olotin Farm—citing verifiable historical evidence passed down through generations.

The family made this declaration at a press conference held at the Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) office in Ilesa.

According to the family representatives, Ademola Ajayi Adelakun, Monisola Ajayi Ogundipe, Adeniyi Ajayi Adelakun, Falade Peter Adebanjo, and Dr Awodele Babatunde Adedeji, who stated that the land in question is not subject to any royalty demands or claims of external ownership, insisting that all attempts to challenge their rights are historically inaccurate and misleading. “Igila Farm remains our ancestral property, inherited lawfully from our forefathers,” the family asserted.

According to the Aletile lineage, the land’s origins trace back to their forefather, Iyekanlu Ogolu, the first settler and recognized owner of the farmland. The family explained that the farm was historically known as Olotin Farm before it later became popularly called Igila Farm. “Our great ancestor, Iyekanlu Ogolu, established the original settlement, and his lineage has maintained ownership ever since,” Ademola said.

They further narrated that during historic wars that displaced communities around Ilesa, Ogolu’s children were scattered, but the family line was later restored through his surviving son, Adegbuyi, who inherited the land. “No individual, authority, or traditional leader ever demanded royalty from our fathers throughout their decades of farming on this land,” Ademola emphasized.

The family also clarified misconceptions linking their ancestry to other villages or external land owners. They stressed that their mother’s lineage from Modakeke has no bearing on ownership of the Igila farmland. “Our father’s lineage—Olosu ground—remains the rightful source of the land inheritance. It did not come through our mother or any other channel,” Ademola clarified.

Addressing recent insinuations that their late father, Moses Ajayi Komolafe, bore the nickname “Saaka” because of a different lineage, the Aletile Family dismissed such claims as unfounded. “Saaka was merely a nickname from his musical group in Osu. It had absolutely no connection to land ownership or lineage,” Ademola noted.

They also disclosed that a recent gesture of presenting two gallons of palm oil to the current Olosu was purely a show of customary respect, not a sign of tenancy. “We offered palm oil out of tradition and respect—not because we owe any royalty or acknowledge any superior claim to our land,” the family insisted.

Reaffirming their stance, the Aletile Family condemned ongoing attempts to distort historical facts or impose unwarranted claims on the land. “Any attempt to rewrite our family history or question our inheritance is unacceptable and contrary to documented truth,” they maintained.

The family concluded by calling for peace and respect for historical accuracy, urging all parties to desist from misrepresentations that could threaten communal harmony. “We are making this statement in the interest of truth, peace, and justice. Igila Farmland is the heritage of the Aletile Family and remains so,” the family declared.