The Olobu of Ilu, Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan ll, has called on the security agencies to immediate invite and investigate the Eesa of Ifon-Orolu, Babatunde Oyetunji and Prince Jide Akinyooye to stop them from causing crisis within Ifon-Orolu and Ilobu communities over land ownership claim.
The monarch made the call on Wednesday, while addressing newsmen at the Palace, described the claim of ownership of land at Opapa Village, Irepodun Local Government area of Osun state by the Eesa of Ifon-Osun as a lies.
The Jagun of Ilobu, Barrister Adegoke Ogunsola who spoke on behalf of the monarch said Opapa Village is not only inhabited by the people of Ilobu, but comprises of pieces of land owned and granted by Olobu of Ilobu to the numerous farmers presently in possession of the land.
He said that Eesa of Ifon-Osun and one Jide Akinyooye, a prince of Ifon, addressed a press conference at Olufon’s Palace wherein it was maliciously claimed that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja was inciting communal crisis over visitation of a retired military personnel received by Olobu of Ilobu.
According to him, “The people of Ilobu, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government are compelled again to react to the recent tissue of lies and the callous attempt by Ifon-Osun Community through its chiefs led by Chief Babatunde Oyetunji, the Eesa of Ifon-Osun to claim ownership of land at Opapa Village, which is not only inhabited by the people of Ilobu, but which comprises of pieces of land owned and granted by Olobu of Ilobu to the numerous farmers presently in possession of the land.
“On 29 August, 2023, Eesa of Ifon-Osun and one Jide Akinyooye, a prince of Ifon, addressed a press conference at Olufon’s Palace wherein it was maliciously claimed that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja was inciting communal crisis.
“The duo of Eesa and Prince Akinyooye further claimed that a delegation of Nigeran Army visited a piece of land at Opapa on 29 August, 2023. The press conference did not only contain false narration, but was also replete of series of blackmail and attempt to drag in the mud, not only the name of Chief of Army Staff, who is a prominent indigene of Ilobu, but also the whole Nigerian Military Institution by a team of in Ifon-Osun, Orolu Local Local Government Area of Osun State as spuriously claimed.
“On Monday 28 August, 2023, Olobu of Ilobu, His Royal Majesty Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan II (J.P) received a retired military personnel as a guest. In the course of the visitation, the Olobu of Ilobu suggested a project under the Military-Civil Relationship of the Nigerian Army. The retired General, who is a friend of Olobu of Ilobu was then taken to parts of Ilobu community where people are in need of the project.
“The places visited are without mincing words, parts of Ilobu Community. Court judgements and Osun State Gazette have, for umpteenth time, confirmed this assertion.
“More specifically, Olobu of Ilobu has always exercising his possessive and ownership rights over land in Opapa, Gbere and their neighbouring villages. Recently, Olobu of Ilobu granted land for building of permanent site of a private higher institution at Opapa, a community under Ilobu and over which Olobu has ownership right.
“The recent rantings by Eesa of Ifon-Osun and Jide Akinyooye were not different from their past lies. The Olobu of Ilobu, Chiefs and people of Ilobu once again appreciate the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Hammed Tinubu for finding worthy for national assignment, a prominent son of Ilobu Lt. Gen. Taoheed A. Lagbaja.
“Similarly on 29 May, 2021, Chief Babatunde Oyetunji, the Eesa of Ifon-Osun made some inflammatory statements in the presence of various security agencies, including the Police and DSS, during the Fidau Prayers for the late Olufon of Ifon-Osun, Oba Al-Maroof Magbagbeola Olumoyero, which could result in communal clash, if people of Ilobu reacted to the said inflammatory statements. We call on the security agencies to immediately invite and investigate the Eesa of Ifon-Orolu, Babatunde Oyetunji and Prince Jide Akinyooye to stop them from causing crisis within the two communities of Ilobu and Ifon-Osun.
We want to reiterate it that the claim by Ifon-Osun Community is an attempt to distract the Chief of Army Staff and the president from pursuing his Renewed Hope Agenda for Nigeria,” he said
