Osun community alleges plot to cede villages to Oyo, calls for arrest of perpetrators

The leadership of the indigenes of Ifon town in Orolu Local Government Area of Osun State, on Saturday accused the people of Ilobu of planning to cede communities within Osun boundary to the neighboring Oyo State.

In a petition by the Secretary of Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union Board of Trustees, Prince Jide Akinyooye, obtained on Saturday, the Ifon community said some villages belonging to the town hitherto headed by indigenes of Ilobu were being ceded to towns in Oyo State.

According to him, the decision by the village heads to pledge allegiance to towns in Oyo State was meant to provoke violent reactions from Ifon community, urging the Osun State Government to act timely on the allegation.

The petition further read, “On Friday, 29th December, 2023 it came to our notice that some indigenes of Ilobu, who are farmers in most of villages under Orolu Local Government, Ifon-Osun were installed by Baale of Iranyin in Surulere Local Government of Oyo State) as new chiefs in their respective settlements.

“For instance, the following indigenes of Ilobu namely; Mr. Tafa; a villager in Bara-Odunayo village was installed and named a Chief to be controlling Bara village in Orolu Local Government. Also, Mr. Alani; a villager in Olosho in Orolu Local Government area Ifon-Osun was installed and named by a traditional ruler in Surulere Local Government area of Oyo State to be controlling Olosho Village in Orolu Local Government of Osun State.

“The alleged conspirators initially started evils immediately after recent communal crises between Ifon Kingdom and Ilobu community by instigating Oyo State Police Command to arrest people within Osun territories and embark on malicious prosecution through the Police Divisional Headquarters in Iresadu, Oyo State.

“They subsequently deployed armed thugs to terrorize our people in Molufon Villages, Okiti, Idi-Iroko Model Town, Olosho and other rural settlements in Olufon Ward 10 of Orolu Local Government area, Ifon-Osun. These Ifon-Osun satellite towns and settlements have traditional chiefs recognized under the Chiefs Laws of Osun State with staff of offices, and they fall within Osun State Administrative and Electoral Maps.

“Olobu being a Chief under Olufon, many of Ilobu indigenes farm in Ifon along Ifon (Osun State) boundary lines with Suurulere Local Government of Oyo State. However, to get back at Ifon on the just resolved communal crisis, and with a clear intention to cause another round of civil unrest, Chief Olobu connived with Chief Aranyin of Iranyin in Suurulere Local Government of Oyo State, notwithstanding the peace accord entrenched by Osun State Government, to cause another rounds of communal clash.

“Available information revealed that all the identified people that were illegally installed by a Baale in Surulere Local Government area of Oyo State are strategizing to settle in their respective targeted villages in Ifon-Osun, under the administrative jurisdiction of Orolu Local Government area of Osun State with a view to provoking Ifon-Osun, Orolu Local Government people to violence. We are a peaceful people.

“It is noteworthy, that historically, the Baale of Iranyin, under Suurulere Local Government is under the traditional authority of Olufon, but for the irregular inter-state boundary between Osun and Oyo states that placed the said village of Iranyin and few others in Suurulere Local Government of Oyo State. However, the inter-state boundary dispute between Osn and Oyo State that will finally put Iranyin under the authority of Olufon in Orolu Local Government of Osun State is pending before the National Boundary Commission. Osun State Government and Olufon have plethora of documentary evidence and pre-colonial judicial decisions to reclaim our resources. It is disheartening to see Chief Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan of Ilobu to betray the trust the government of Osun State reposed in him by aiding and abetting his people in attempts to cede Osun State land and resources to Oyo State.

“We are convinced that the intention of their sponsors / collaborators on this evil and illegal mission is not only to unnecessarily cede territorial boundary land of Osun State to Oyo State by sabotaging the Osun State government position before the National Boundary Commission; but also to cause civil disturbance in the area.

“It is important to clarify to the members of public that public facilities including primary schools, primary health centers, Low-Cost Housing, Motorized Boreholes and other social amenities that were provided by the government of Osun State are existing in the concerned locations, that also accommodated Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Polling Stations positioned within Olufon Ward 10 of Orolu Local Government area, Ifon-Osun without dispute from time immemorial.

“We therefore, consider it necessary to let the members of public realize that all these criminal intentions will be exercises in futility. Also, we want the Osun State Government to understand that the Orolu Stakeholders will NOT TOLERATE such malicious betrayal against the State by Ilobu people, who are consistently devising means to activate offensive manipulation.

The leadership of the community calls on the State Government and Inspector General of Police through the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 11 Police Command to investigate Baale of Iranyin, Oyo state, the impersonators who were purportedly installed the Olu-Idiroko, Olu of Molufon, and Bara among others within Osun State for impersonation under the Chiefs Laws of Osun State with a view to prosecuting them accordingly.

E-Signed
Prince Jide Adelaja Akinyooye; ACA,
(Secretary: Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union Board of Trustees)