The Ibereko Youth Forum has held the ‘Ibereko Peace Conference and Resolution’ as steps towards ending the communal crisis.
Held at the Ibereko Town Hall, Badagry, Lagos State, the event was attended by youths and other members of the community.
Secretary of the Planning Committee Kareem Olaguro said the programme was held to resolve grievances of many members of the Ibereko community.
He said: “A 12-man committee was set up to critically look into the matter, and we discovered that we have three major issues in the community which are social, economic and political.”.
Olaguro, blamed the community’s monarch, Oba Isreal Okoya, for the economic crisis, alleging that all economic affairs in the community, including land sales, were being handled by oba Okoya.
“None of the community members, including the chiefs, know how the economic affairs are run, including land and other revenues. The community itself has not had a bank account for over 15 years of him being king,” he added.
Asked why the Oba was not at the event, Olaguro said a letter was sent to him but he refused to come. “He even tried to stop the programme from holding but he didn’t succeed,” he said.
Olaguro said the youths are calling for peace and rapid development in the community, and that Oba Okoya should not continue to single-handedly run the community.
“People of like minds and importance should be allowed to work with the Oba to make the community move forward,” he added.
But Oba Okoya said those who called for the peace conference were not youths of Ibereko community but his adversaries. The monarch insisted he did not sell any land at Ibereko, saying those accusing him should provide evidence to show he sold their lands.
“I have the court judgment in 1912 and 2021, they should also provide some evidence.”
On whether he took over power by force, the royal father said he could not be king without the Lagos State government.
“I became Oba 15 years ago, and the state government has not dethroned me for emerging Oba by force. I am a member of the Obas and Chiefs Council of Lagos State. I can’t be a first-class Oba without the state government. I got an official car from the state as a legal Oba. I get monthly salaries and allowances from the government because I was installed by the state government.”