Ifon Alleges Ilobu Of Ceding Osun Land To Oyo

The leadership of the indigenes of Ifon community in Orolu local government has accused the people of Ilobu in Irepodun local government both in Osun State of planning to cede communities within Osun boundary to the neighbouring Oyo State.

According to a petition written by the Secretary of Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union Board of Trustees, Prince Jide Akinyooye and obtained by OSUN DEFENDER, 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: “The attention of Orolu people (particularly stakeholders that comprises of members of Olufon Royal Family, Olufon Traditional Council of Chiefs and leadership of Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union) in Orolu Local Government Ifon-Osun has been drawn to grand conspiracy of some people that can be summarily described as enemies of Osun State, who are scheming to device all fraudulent means to cede Osun State territorial land in Orolu Local Government area, Ifon-Osun, Osun State to Iranyin, a village in Surulere Local Government area of Oyo State.

“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.

“Similar situation applies to Molufon and Idi-Iroko Model Towns whose Chiefs are Second Class Obas under Osun State Chief Laws. Unfortunately, we factually realized that all these grand conspiracies were maliciously hatched and executed against the people of Ifon, Orolu Local Government, and government of Osun State with knowledge of Chief Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan, the Baale of Ilobu in Osun State who received them in his palace with funfare.

“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 Osun 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.

“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”, the petition added.

The warring communities has been at loggerheads over land ownership which made Governor Ademola Adeleke declared 24-hour curfew in the two communities in October after eight people were reported dead in their clash. The clash also left four policemen, including the Divisional Police Officer for Irepodun Division, injured, while trying to mediate in the crisis.