The land owners under the aegis of the Kelebe-Omu land owners association in Osogbo on Tuesday, took a peaceful protest to the state House of Assembly and State Secretariat over disobeying court judgment and orders by the Nigerian Army on their land.
The protesters chanted different songs, bearing placards with various inscriptions such as; Nigerian Army stop harassing us over our land, President Tinubu helps us over the invasion of Nigerian Army on our land, Nigerian Army should leave our land after court judgment among others.
They trooped out in their hundreds to express their grievances over harassment and intimation by some men of Nigerian Army on Kelebe-Omu land.
Speaking, the Chairman of the Kelebe-Omu land owners association, Amodu Akanbi said that the action of the Nigerian Army for disobeying court order after the judgment in favour of land owners as falling into contempt of court.
Akanbi alleged that Nigeria Army is selling off their land to individuals who were derailed from the purpose for which the land was earlier forcefully and unlawfully acquired from the land owners.
He called on Governor Ademola Adeleke, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja to Intervene on the matter.
Addressing the protesters, Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon Adewale Egbedun assured the protesters that the House will do everything within the jurisdiction of the law to ensure that they repossessed their land.
Egbedun who was represented by Adewumi Adeyemi, lawmaker representing Obokun State Constituency stated that the Assembly would take up the mater within the jurisdiction of the law, urging the protesters to ensure their protest was conducted in a peaceful manner.
According to Egbedun, “We don’t want chaos or disturbance with the peace we already have in Osun State.
“I want to assure you that the House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun is going to take a very fast step on this issue because he has made up his mind to uphold the law at every point in time.
“As of today, the law says you’re the rightful owner of the land except a court of competent jurisdiction rules otherwise at a later date.
“The Speaker is going to take steps on it to make sure it is resolved very fast. We don’t want anything that will tamper with the peace we are enjoying in the state.”
Earlier, aggrieved people across 45 family compounds in Osogbo and Olorunda Local government of the state had visited the Ataoja of Osogbo, HRM Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun Larooye ll to receive royal blessing.
Meanwhile, Ataoja of Osogbo, HRM Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun Larooye ll condemned the flagrant disobedience of the Court order by the Nigerian Army, reaffirming the ownership of the said land within his royal territory.
It could be recall that that the Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo had in January, 2023 proclaimed that the land in dispute was the sole property of the land owners.
