“Lies” – Ilobu Community Reacts to Ifon-Orolu Claims Over Ownership of Land at Gbere, Opapa, Details Emerge

VAM News August 30, 2023 in Local News Tagged Gbere, Ifon-Orolu Town, Ilobu Community, Land, Opapa, Osun state - 5 Minutes

VOICE AIR MEDIA News Update

Ilobu Community and Ifon-Orolu town, two major communities when listing the names of places in Osun state, in the southwest of Nigeria, according to report, on Monday 28th 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. And the places visited are parts of Ilobu Community.

Following the the Army’s visitation, it was learnt that 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.

While debunking the report cited by Ifon-Orolu, Ilobu community the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government area described the Land ownership claim of Opapa village by Ifon-Orolu community as “lies and callous” attempt, and it was then proven that Court judgements and Osun State Gazette have, for umpteenth time, confirmed this assertion that Ilobu is the owner of the places visited by the Army.

Here is the court proves below;

“Judgement in Suit No HOY/20/70 between Oba J. O. Akinyooye II, the Olufon of Ifon Osun , for himself and on behalf of chiefs and people of Ifon Osun and Oba Aminu O. Siyanbola, the Olobu of Ilobu, (later Prince Salami Adesina and Prince Kola Oyewumi Siyanbola) delivered on 17/7/1973.

Judgement in Appeal No FCA/I/1978 between Oba J. O. Akinyooye II, the Olufon of Ifon Osun , for himself and on behalf of chiefs and people of Ifon Osun and Prince Salami Adesina and Prince Kola Oyewumi delivered on 22/9/1981.

Judgement in Suit No HOS/22/86 between Jimoh Adigun & Amusa Akanni and Oba Asiru Olaniyan and others delivered on 18/10/1991.

Judgement in Appeal No CA/I/153/98 between Amusa Akanni and Oba Asiru Olaniyan delivered 7/7/2005. Olokanla people and Olufon’s alleged grante in Suit No HOS/22/86 and Appeal No CA/I/153/98. 15 years layer filed an application to appeal against the judgment in Appeal No CA/I/153/98, but their application was struck by the Supreme Court in a ruling delivered on 17/4/2018 in Appeal No SC 94/2015.

Judgment in Suit No HOS/40/2015 between HRM Oba A. A. Magbagbeola (OLufon of Ifon) & Orolu local government and the Governor of Osun State & five others, delivered on 13/7/2018.”

Voice Air Media learnt that before and after the aboved-mentioned judgments were delivered, Olobu of Ilobu and people of Ilobu had been and are still in active possession, occupation, use and ownership of all lands in Ilobu and have been allocating them to individuals, group of people, private and public organization, government and government agencies. 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.

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Recalled that indigenes of Ifon-Orolu in Orolu local Government of the State had on Tuesday staged a protest, warning the Nigerian Army against any action that can trigger crisis between the Community and Ilobu.

The protest was occasioned by the visit and inspection carried out on some pieces of land in Opapa village by some military officers for possible future siting of projects.

Addressing Journalists, in the palace of Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Asiru Olaniyan, the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Adegoke Ogunsola said, it was a retired General planing to build some projects on the land that carried out the inspection on the request of Olobu.

He said Ilobu as a community, frowned at the allegations of involvement of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoheed Lagbaja in the matter.

According to him, number of cases had been instituted on various land matters between the two communities some of which were taken up to the supreme Court.

He said “The places visited are without mincing words, parts of Ilobu Community. Court judgements and Osun State Gazette have, for umpteenth time, confirmed this assertion.

The community Leaders however called on the security agencies to immediately invite and investigate the Eesa of Ifon-Orolu, Babatunde Oyetunji to stop him from causing crisis within the community.

Similarly, It further extended hands of fellowship to the Ifon-Orolu Progressives Union for peace move between the communities.

The Ilobu community also expressed gratitude to President Bola Hammed Tinubu for appointing Lt. Gen. Taoheed A. Lagbaja to a national role and urged a resolution to the dispute that will allow the community to focus on national development initiatives.