The traditional chiefs and kingmakers of Moro Community in Ife North Local Government area of Osun State have insisted that they would not consult Ifa oracle and deities in selecting new king for the town.
The Moro-in-Council and kingmakers through the Oosa of the town, High Chief Festus Abidoye addressing newsmen at the palace of Olumoro of Moro who died in February 2024 said during the reign of the late king, Oba Ezekiel Oyeniyi remarkable developments were recorded as he stopped idol worshipping and replaced it with Jesus Christ.
He said: “Oba Oyeniyi replaced Egungun festival with Moro For Christ crusade and other Christian festivities.”
“Selection of new king of the town will be fair and follow due process. We have prayed and still praying. When the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi visited us he told us that he is in support of whatever is been done to select new king.
“We have tasted both the benefits of serving deities and God almighty, we have seen which one pays us. Since we shift our allegiance to Jesus Christ, we witnessed monumental development in our community.
“Most of the Ifa diviners are only looking for what to eat, we are not going to consult Ifa in choosing our next king, we are going to consult our God. The moment we move with his will, he will perfect it. This community is not mono-religious community. We have both Christian and Muslim community. We are not going to exclude Muslim in whatever we will do but we are not going to include idol worshippers. No Ifa worshipper will come here to give us divination.
A statement by the police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, reads: “The police is miffed by the report of the killing of a man in Iwo by a hunter, despite continuous warnings to the public, especially hunters and other local security outfits, against the use of firearms.
“The Command thus appeals to the public, especially the deceased’s family and residents of Iwo to remain calm and not to take laws into their own hands. The command has set up a team to investigate the circumstances that led to the shooting/killing.”
A statement by Osun Police Command through its spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola explained: “The Osun State Police Command is miffed with the report of the killing of a man in Iwo despite continuous warnings of members of the public especially hunters and other local security outfits on the use of guns (firearms).
“The Command is using this medium to appeal to members of the public especially the family of the deceased and residents of Iwo to remain calm and not to take law into their hands as the Command has set up a team of crack detectives to investigate the circumstances that led to the shooting/killing of the man in the town.”
Six suspected cultists en route to Delta State have been arrested in Ipetu-Ijesa in Ori-Ade Local Government Area of Osun State with guns and bullets.
The Nation gathered that suspects were found in possession of guns and bullets when they were apprehended at a motor park in the town.
According to a security source, the six suspects were on their way from Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, to Delta State to reinforce their group for a cult war.
The Osun state police command through its public relations officer, SP Yemisi Opalola said that “the six suspects were arrested at Ipetu-Ijesa motor pack.
“Four cut-to-size locally made pistols with 155 rounds of live 9mm ammunition were recovered from the suspect. The suspects confessed to being members of the Eiye confraternity from Ilorin town, Kwara state, and heading to Delta state for cultism operation.”
These are not the best of times for residents of Olodo, a village in Awosun community, Ile-Ife, Osun State. They are in a battle of their lives to rescue their lands allegedly being taken over by some land grabbers disguising as road construction workers.
The embattled residents are battling with insomnia over alleged plan to demolish their houses with the result that all they have laboured for in life could go down the drain if the planned demolition exercise is allowed to sail through.
In a chat with our correspondent, a resident of the community, who identified himself simply as Ade, said the problem started a couple of weeks ago when a group of people came into the village and claimed that they were there in preparation for a road construction exercise.
Ade said as it would be expected, the people were elated at the news of a development they believed would impact positively on the people’s lives. He said the residents believed also that the development would encourage many residents of the community who had abandoned their lands to start building their houses.
Alas, they were wrong as they later discovered to their chagrin that many of them would not only be unable to build their houses, they could lose their entire investments at the end of the day.
Ade said the residents’ worries assumed new twist as the invaders claimed that they were acting on behalf of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi while the people are of the firm belief that the highly revered traditional ruler would not be a party to the unholy mission.
Ade said: “It could just be that they came to drop the Ooni’s name to in order to grab our lands.
“We noticed that one Barry White, identified by some people as the Ooni’s engineer, just came in and started measuring the road that enters our street from Ibadan Road, Zone 1 Awosun Quarters.
“When we accosted him, he said the Kabiyesi (Ooni) wanted to take over the land because he would soon start building an estate somewhere close to us.
“Initially, we were upbeat about the development. But the following day, we were told that some properties would be affected because the road would be dual carriage as against the initial one lane.”
The residents became restless, realizing that many of their properties would have to make way for the two-lane road as against the one-lane designed in the original survey. Unfortunately, many of them are just building their first house.
Getting wind of the situation, those who originally sold the land to the present owners decided to resist those who were trying to construct the road outside what is in the survey plan.
According to Ade, the original owners of the land, the Kolokolo Family, told the residents that it had made a provision for road leading to the land for the proposed estate, hence there was no need for the owners of the estate to take peoples’ lands.
Ade said a week after the contractor and other alleged invaders were chased out of the land, the residents were surprised that the contractors returned to the site, saying, “Kabiyesi is interested in the land and he wants to use it.”
Again, the community resisted and forced the contractors to leave the site and move to another place to construct the road to their estate.
While the owners of the properties were happy that they would now enjoy a respite, whatever respite there was turned out an ephemeral one.
“We were surprised that the situation of those at the new site chosen for the road became worse because many houses would be demolished.
“There, they took 40 metres and have in fact started marking houses in the area for demolition.
“The contractor allegedly told the property owners in the area that the houses located in the vicinity were not expensive, hence the Kabiyesi should be able to pay for them,” Ade said.
Part of the community, according to him, is a 63-hectare land already sold to people. “But we heard that Kabiyesi wants to acquire the land and move the owners to other places,” he said.
The residents are, however, resisting being relocated to other places because they fear that the new place would expose them to further danger because it belongs to people who are not ready to cede their lands to anyone.
Ade said that many of the residents are apprehensive right now because if nothing is done about the issue, they may lose their properties.
“They threatened us that they would bring bulldozers and start work in the community, and anybody that puts up any resistance would be taken away,” he added.
As things stand, it would seem that property owners in Awosun community are in a Catch-22 situation. “We are appealing to Kabiyesi to do something about the situation before it turns into a crisis,” Ade said.
In a statement obtained by our correspondent from one of the executive members of the community’s development association, the community made a passionate appeal for the intervention of Oba Ogunwusi over planned demolition at Olodo village, Awosun, Ife-Ibadan Road, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
The statements reads: “Recently, the entire Awosun community was taken aback to see some people who came to inspect the community with the plan to construct a dualised road that will lead to their proposed estate site at Olodo village, Awosun.
“The proposed project site is a large expanse of land procured by individuals and groups of people, with some of them already having the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and official or registered copy of the land survey.
“Kabiyesi, it is worthy of note that not less than sixty-three (63) acres of land and many existing resident houses will be affected by this plan.
“However, it should be on record that the land was bought from the following people:
1. His Royal Highness, Oba Adesina Ogunwusi, Atilade of Fasina, Ile-Ife
2. Barrister Adetunji Olalekan Ijiyode
3. Surveyor Bukola Adeboye Adedire
“Kabiyesi, you are well known as an epitome of love, peace, unity, and progress. In addition, you are a personality of impeccable character and a father figure to the land of Oodua and the Yoruba race.
“We, therefore, passionately appeal that you use your good office to urgently intervene on this matter. Please sir, rise to defend the vulnerable and common people of Awosun, Ile-Ife.
“Long live Kabiyesi, Eniitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), OFR! Baba, ki e pe l’ori apere awonbaba nla yin o! (long may you live on the throne of your forefathers)”
Ooni’s palace reacts
Efforts to reach the Ooni’s palace proved unsuccessful as the Media Director, Moses Olafare to Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, refused to respond to his phone calls.
Also, he did not respond to text messages put to his phone number for over a week, despite reminders to follow up on both phone calls and texts.
But a source at the Ooni’s palace told our correspondent that efforts were being made to resolve the matter. “The representatives of the community have been invited. They have been told to compile the list of those being affected by the road network.”
Early in the week, a member of the community debunked the claim that their representatives had been invited by the palace.
He disclosed that work had commenced on the road, and the grading of the road had affected several plots of land in the community. “Several fences have been demolished to pave the way for the road. As we are talking, they are grading the road. Many people have lost their plots of land. Fifty three hectares of land have been lost as a result of this road construction.“
Following the worsening dirtiness of the State capital of Osun State, the government has issued a stern warning to residents to desist from dumping refuse on the main streets.
The Nation had reported on Friday that residents of Osogbo, capital of Osun State lamented over the worsening dirtiness of the city following the sacking of corps of Osun Youths Empowerment Scheme (OYES) saddled with the responsibility of sweeping and cleaning public places in the state.
Reacting to the report, the Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Mayowa Adejoorin, lamented that some residents are deliberately frustrating the efforts of the government in ensuring a clean environment in the state.
He said: “Despite our efforts in making sure that our environment remains clean, we noticed that some individuals are still adamant in this regard and we are not taking it with levity.
“We have been telling the residents to stop the habit of dumping refuse on our major roads. Just two days ago, some individuals who dropped refuse on the highway were arrested by the personnel of Osun Waste Management Agency (OWMA) and they were fined appropriately. We are not resting on our oars.”
He added: “Concerning the little refuse you noticed on our highway, some of our vehicles that we use to pack the refuse developed mechanical fault and they’ve been repaired, by tomorrow, our staff will be on duty to pack the refuse. I can assure you.
“Also, let me use this medium to urge our people to stop this bad habit. We have private operators who come to our streets to collect this refuse with just a token. Let’s inculcate the habit of making our environment clean at all times.”
Residents of Osun State are groaning over the worsening dirtiness of the state capital since the corps of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) were sacked by the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Members of the corps, saddled with the responsibility of sweeping and cleaning public places, were sacked since 2022 and no replacements have been made.
The Nation observed that the state capital, Osogbo, is becoming dirtier and many public places are becoming an eyesore. It was also noted that the Osun State Waste Management (OSWM) has not been performing its statutory role of packing waste from homes.
Places visited include Kobo, Ota-Efun, Powerline, Odi-Olowo, Alekuwodo, Ogo-Oluwa, Ayetoro, Capital, Old-Garage, Africa and some neighbouring towns.
Executive Director of a coalition of civil society groups, The Osun Masterminds (TOM), Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, berated the government for sacking youths who swept the public places.
Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation Adejoorin Mayowa declined calls and refused to respond to texts messages.
•Feuding party withdraws from Adeleke’s conflict resolution committee
A mechanism put in place by stakeholders, including the Osun State Government to end communal clashes between Ifon and Ilobu communities has suffered a hiccup, TOBA ADEDEJI reports.
It was a usual morning at Abule Aganna, a disputed settlement between two Osun communities of Ifon and Ilobu. The air was cool in a gesture of tranquility and serenity in the rustic village. The sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves made melody under the pale blue sky. Domestic animals grazed in the fields while the farming population got ready for the day’s work.
The head of the community, Pa Basiru Adegbenro, grabbed his chewing stick, and fixed it in his mouth, using his molars to hold it in place. He wore his ankara top and trousers and headed for his farm. As Adegbenro worked on his farm with his son, Surajudeen, a communal clash broke out between the Ifon and Ilobu communities, with men from the two sides brandishing weapons as they confronted one another.
Adegbenro made to flee but age had taken a toll on his physique. Some of the warring youths caught up with him and gruesomely murdered him. Even the youthful Surajudeen, who thought he had escaped, ran into another ambush laid by the warring youths and he was also brutally killed. The killings complicated the hostility between the two warring communities of Ilobu in Irepodun Local Government Area, Osun State, and Ifon in Orolu Local Government Area also in the state.
It will be recalled that Ifon and Ilobu had clashed on several occasions as a result of disputed land areas. The two communities had engaged in a series of bickering as a result of two parcels of land, namely Opapa and Gbere, over which they had dragged each other to court in 1968.
Findings revealed that the two communities had engaged each other in a legal battle since then till 2018. Numbered among the cases are HOS/29/64; Supreme Court case of 1968; FCA/1/19/68; HOY/20/70 between Oba J. O. Akinyooye II, the Olufon of Ifon and Oba Aminu O. Siyanbola, the Olobu of Ilobu; Appeal No FCA/I/1978 between Oba J. O. Akinyooye II, the Olufon of Ifon and Prince Salami Adesina; Suit No HOS/22/86 between Jimoh Adigun and Oba Asiru Olaniyan; Appeal No CA/I/153/98 between Amusa Akanni and Oba Asiru Olaniyan; Suit No HOS/22/86; Appeal No SC 94/2015; Suit No HOS/40/2015 between Oba A. A. Magbagbeola (Olufon of Ifon) & Orolu local government and the Governor of Osun State and others
In the face of the foregoing, animosity built up between the two communities, leading to a physical confrontation on July 22, 2005, on account of the activities of men from the Nigeria Population Commission (NPC). However, the clash was quelled promptly. But on August 28, 2023, the bickering was renewed following plans by the Nigerian Army to site a hospital project on one of the disputed lands. The move had attracted objection from the Ifon people, who alleged that Ilobu wanted to use the influence of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja to acquire the disputed land.
On September 16, 2023, 28-year-old Sodiq Alamu, a native of Ilobu, was shot dead on one of the disputed lands. An admission seeker was also killed in Okanla village close to Ifon and Ilobu on September 17, 2023. The killings prompted the natives of the two communities to make provocative comments resulting in physical confrontation. Two people were shot in October 2023, resulting in a communal clash that caused the death of scores and loss of property, and forced Governor Adeleke to impose a curfew.
Hostility was again renewed on November 30, 2023, with a clash between the youths of the two communities over the excavation of sand on the disputed land. On December 6, 2023, farmers in the Ilobu community, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State, protested against alleged harassment, intimidation, and looting of their farm produce by aggrieved indigenes of Ifon community in some villages in Surulere Local Government, Oyo State. Pa Basiru Adegbenro, who led the protest, alleged that indigenes of Ifon were intimidating them with guns and other dangerous weapons.
He said: “After the war, the people of the Ifon community have been intimidating and harassing us. They burn our cash crop, loot our farm produce, and destroy our houses in villages in Oyo State.
Waale, Agana Amoo, Abebi, Oloso, Ojeyemi, Idi-Iroko, Bara, Toolu, Ikimon and Bada are disputed villages which both Oyo and Osun states are laying claims to. The villages are populated by residents of Ilobu and Ifon.
Reacting to the protests by farmers, the Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on boundary matters, Barrister Bukola Onifade, berated the claims that some of the lands belong to Oyo State, saying, “Osun State owns the land they claimed belongs to Oyo State. The people of Ilobu want to cede those lands to Oyo State. They have applied to a court for that. We have also warned people of Ifon not to chase anybody out of their land.”
The Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Barrister Leke Ogunsola, disclosed that some villages in Oyo State are predominantly occupied by Ilobu indigenes. The Secretary of Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union, Prince Jide Akinyooye, insisted that the villages belong to Osun State hence the claims made by Ilobu should not be admitted.
Meanwhile, on January 30, 2024, a plan to install natives of Ilobu as village heads by the Arayin of Iranyin, Oba Lasisi Omogboye in the Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State caused a fresh crisis, leading to the killing of the village head and his son.
Subsequently, the Osun State Police Command arrested two suspects with weapons and criminal charms.
Adeleke threatens to depose monarchs if war persists
Governor Adeleke has threatened to depose any monarch that is influencing a clash between Ifon and Ilobu communities after the resurgence of the crisis led to loss of lives. Adeleke blew hot after the war extended to villages in Oyo State at Surulere Local Government Area of the state.
The governor after a security meeting held in February 2024 with the heads of security agencies and stakeholders in Ifon and Ilobu communities, said: “Any traditional ruler found to be fanning embers of violence will be removed from office.
“Requisite intelligence is being gathered on the extent of culpability of prominent leaders from the two areas.”
Adeleke imposed a 6 pm to 6 am curfew on the warring communities and also set up a joint task force of all stakeholders. The governor also held town hall meetings with the two communities separately, urging them to coexist peacefully during interactive sessions with them.
According to Adeleke, the resolutions and other political strategies already adopted by his administration would tackle the root cause of the clashes, repeating his resolve to deal harshly with those behind the communal unrest.
“I am here to preach peace as a condition for development and better life for our people. I am here to warn that there is no room for warmongers and sponsors of violence. It is in everybody’s interest for peace to reign permanently in these communities.
“If you don’t know, your needless confrontations are scaring investors away from Osun. Don’t allow yourself to become agents of under-development. Let us jaw-jaw instead of war-war.
“I charge you all to sheath your swords and embrace dialogue. Instead of blood shedding and destruction of properties, why not join hands to build a prosperous society? Our administration will reinforce and sustain peace at all costs.”
14-man Community Peace Resolution Committee
Governor Adeleke screened the representatives nominated by the warring communities and approved the selection of a 14-memberCcommunity Resolution Committee in relation to the Ifon-Ilobu communal clashes.
He appreciated the royal fathers and community leaders such as the Olobu of Ilobu, HRM Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan; The Elerin of Erin-Osun, HRM Oba Yusuf Omoloye Oyagbodun; and the Eesa of Ifon-Orolu, among others.
The Community Peace Resolution ommittee consists of four persons each from Ilobu, Ifon, and Erin-Osun communities, while two representatives were also chosen from Okanla to make it a 14-member committee.
He noted that the government would roll out terms of reference as a template that would guide the committee in the course of carrying out the peace mission
Peace talk suffers hiccup as community withdraws from Adeleke’s committee
The peace talk to end communal war between Ifon and Ilobu communities suffered a setback recently as one of the parties involved withdrew from the committee set up by Governor Adeleke.
The Nation recalls that Governor Adeleke intervened after the war surged again in late January, leaving three people dead. The renewed war was premised on the October 2023 clash in which many lives were lost and properties destroyed.
The Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olaniyan, through the counsel of the community, Olatoye Aminu, wrote to Governor Adeleke to inform him of the decision of the town to withdraw from the Conflict Resolution Committee because Okanla was recognised as a town like Ilobu, Ifon-Osun and Erin-Osun.
A copy of the letter obtained by The Nation reads: “Again, we hereby, on behalf of our client, raise a serious objection to the inclusion and/or participation of the nominees of Okanla family in the Community Peace Resolution Committee.
“Our Client’s objection is predicated on the Okanla family comprising a 2-house compound within llobu and does not and should not enjoy the status of a community like Ilobu, Ifon-Osun and Erin-Osun.
“Azeez Bashir Abimbade, Okanla family’s first nominee in the list of the 14-man Community Peace Resolution Committee, has not, whether presently or in the past, associated himself with Okanla Compound, llobu; he is the current Local Government Party Chairman for the Peoples Democratic Party.
“Similarly, Chief Taofik Lawal Arulogun (2nd nominee) is known to be a member of Arulogun family of Arulogun village, Ibadan, Oyo State.”
He noted that “Consequent upon the above, therefore, our Client hereby gives notice to your Excellency of the withdrawal of Ilobu representatives from the inauguration of the Community Peace Resolution Committee.”
At least 50 acres of palm trees and pineapples worth N150 million were destroyed by inferno at Royal Farm in Akeredolu Village, Osu, Atakumosa West Local Government Area of Osun State.
Founder of the farm, Rufus Jegede, who made the disclosure at a news conference, held at the farm yesterday, said that the incident occurred on Friday.
Jegede said he started the farm, comprising palm oil production, animal husbandry and other arable cropping in 2015 after his retirement.
According to him, he had been contributing his quota toward ensuring food security in the country.
“We have created employment to no fewer than 40 workers, as we observed that the government alone could not do it, thereby reducing unemployment in the country.
“Before the farm got to this stage, we had been planting lots of things, taking them to the market with a view to reducing insufficiency in Nigeria,” he said.
Jegede said that before the incident, a minimum of 50 kegs of palm oil were being produced per week, while about 500 tons of pineapples were being harvested annually.
He said that he lost close to 4,000 palm trees and five acres of pineapple farm, as they were badly burnt, lamenting that, with the incident, there would be no harvest from the palm trees and pineapples this year.
He said that only his farm was destroyed by the fire, thus suspecting that some hoodlums, whom he described as ‘wicked individuals’ might have set the farm ablaze.
“This is the third time that the farm would be ravaged with fire since its establishment,” he said.
Jegede stated that a man, simply identified as Sunday, who, he said, used to disturb, steal, harvest their plantain and pineapple had been apprehended in connection with the fire.
These are not the best of times for residents of Olodo, a village in Awosun community, Ile-Ife, Osun State. They are in a battle of their lives to rescue their lands allegedly being taken over by some land grabbers disguising as road construction workers.
The embattled residents are battling with insomnia over alleged plan to demolish their houses with the result that all they have laboured for in life could go down the drain if the planned demolition exercise is allowed to sail through.
In a chat with our correspondent, a resident of the community, who identified himself simply as Ade, said the problem started a couple of weeks ago when a group of people came into the village and claimed that they were there in preparation for a road construction exercise.
Ade said as it would be expected, the people were elated at the news of a development they believed would impact positively on the people’s lives. He said the residents believed also that the development would encourage many residents of the community who had abandoned their lands to start building their houses.
Alas, they were wrong as they later discovered to their chagrin that many of them would not only be unable to build their houses, they could lose their entire investments at the end of the day.
Ade said the residents’ worries assumed new twist as the invaders claimed that they were acting on behalf of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi while the people are of the firm belief that the highly revered traditional ruler would not be a party to the unholy mission.
Ade said: “It could just be that they came to drop the Ooni’s name to in order to grab our lands.
“We noticed that one Barry White, identified by some people as the Ooni’s engineer, just came in and started measuring the road that enters our street from Ibadan Road, Zone 1 Awosun Quarters.
“When we accosted him, he said the Kabiyesi (Ooni) wanted to take over the land because he would soon start building an estate somewhere close to us.
“Initially, we were upbeat about the development. But the following day, we were told that some properties would be affected because the road would be dual carriage as against the initial one lane.”
The residents became restless, realizing that many of their properties would have to make way for the two-lane road as against the one-lane designed in the original survey. Unfortunately, many of them are just building their first house.
Getting wind of the situation, those who originally sold the land to the present owners decided to resist those who were trying to construct the road outside what is in the survey plan.
According to Ade, the original owners of the land, the Kolokolo Family, told the residents that it had made a provision for road leading to the land for the proposed estate, hence there was no need for the owners of the estate to take peoples’ lands.
Ade said a week after the contractor and other alleged invaders were chased out of the land, the residents were surprised that the contractors returned to the site, saying, “Kabiyesi is interested in the land and he wants to use it.”
Again, the community resisted and forced the contractors to leave the site and move to another place to construct the road to their estate.
While the owners of the properties were happy that they would now enjoy a respite, whatever respite there was turned out an ephemeral one.
“We were surprised that the situation of those at the new site chosen for the road became worse because many houses would be demolished.
“There, they took 40 metres and have in fact started marking houses in the area for demolition.
“The contractor allegedly told the property owners in the area that the houses located in the vicinity were not expensive, hence the Kabiyesi should be able to pay for them,” Ade said.
Part of the community, according to him, is a 63-hectare land already sold to people. “But we heard that Kabiyesi wants to acquire the land and move the owners to other places,” he said.
The residents are, however, resisting being relocated to other places because they fear that the new place would expose them to further danger because it belongs to people who are not ready to cede their lands to anyone.
Ade said that many of the residents are apprehensive right now because if nothing is done about the issue, they may lose their properties.
“They threatened us that by next week, they would bring bulldozers and start work in the community, and anybody that puts up any resistance would be taken away,” he added.
As things stand, it would seem that property owners in Awosun community are in a Catch-22 situation. “We are appealing to Kabiyesi to do something about the situation before it turns into a crisis,” Ade said.
In a statement obtained by our correspondent from one of the executive members of the community’s development association, the community made a passionate appeal for the intervention of Oba Ogunwusi over planned demolition at Olodo village, Awosun, Ife-Ibadan Road, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
The statements reads: “Recently, the entire Awosun community was taken aback to see some people who came to inspect the community with the plan to construct a dualised road that will lead to their proposed estate site at Olodo village, Awosun.
“The proposed project site is a large expanse of land procured by individuals and groups of people, with some of them already having the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and official or registered copy of the land survey.
“Kabiyesi, it is worthy of note that not less than sixty-three (63) acres of land and many existing resident houses will be affected by this plan.
“However, it should be on record that the land was bought from the following people:
1. His Royal Highness, Oba Adesina Ogunwusi, Atilade of Fasina, Ile-Ife
2. Barrister Adetunji Olalekan Ijiyode
3. Surveyor Bukola Adeboye Adedire
“Kabiyesi, you are well known as an epitome of love, peace, unity, and progress. In addition, you are a personality of impeccable character and a father figure to the land of Oodua and the Yoruba race.
“We, therefore, passionately appeal that you use your good office to urgently intervene on this matter. Please sir, rise to defend the vulnerable and common people of Awosun, Ile-Ife.
“Long live Kabiyesi, Eniitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), OFR! Baba, ki e pe l’ori apere awonbaba nla yin o! (long may you live on the throne of your forefathers)”
Ooni’s palace reacts
Efforts to reach the Ooni’s palace proved unsuccessful as the Media Director, Moses Olafare to Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, refused to respond to his phone calls.
Also, he did not respond to text messages put to his phone number for over a week, despite reminders to follow up on both phone calls and texts.
But a source at the Ooni’s palace told our correspondent that he had no information about the proposed demolition of peoples’ houses, promising to get back to our correspondent.
He, however, said Barry White had been invited by the palace.
