Stop Frustrating Adeleke’s Peace Resolution, Ifon-Osun Indigenes To Olobu
•Accuse Olobu Of Spreading Lies Against Olufon
•Urge Security Agencies To Invite Him For Questioning
Indigenes of Ifon-Osun community in Orolu Local Government Area of Osun State have berated the Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olaniyan, over what they described as baseless allegations against the Olufon of Ifon-Osun, Oba Peter Oluwole Akinyooye.
The indigenes said the statement credited to the Olobu, alleging Olufon of using armed thugs to terrorise Ilobu people was not only false but an attempt to fraudulently take possession of the land that does not belong to him (Olobu) and his community.
They also noted that the allegation that the Olufon have a hit squad led by Chief Sikiru Mustapha and Chief Fatai Muideen was untrue and an attempt to bring the reputation of their monarch to disrepute.
The Ifon-Osun indigenes stated these in response to a press statement by the Olobu-in-Council where they accused the Olufon of activities that might spark another round of war between the two communities.
The Olobu-in-Council, in the press statement on Wednesday, also alleged Olufon of using armed thugs to forcefully demand payment for annual tribute (Isakole) from farmers.
But the Ifon-Osun indigenes in a press statement signed by the President and Secretary of Ifon-Orulu Progressive Union (home branch), Alhaji W.O Idowu and Mr Adejumo Adewuyi, respectively, on Friday, said the Olufon who is also the president of Irepodun/Orolu Traditional Council, is a peace-loving monarch and will not engage in any form crime.
The IPU secretary, while reading the press statement, noted that the call by Olobu for security agencies and the state government to intervene and call Olufon to order before another war broke out in the two communities was a flimsy excuse for Olobu and his people to resort to violence.
The indigenes noted that Olobu and his people were not committed to the peaceful resolution being championed by the state government under the leadership of Senator Ademola Adeleke.
The statement further said, “The true position is that the Olufon of Ifon as the Paramount Ruler of Orolu Kingdom and Permanent President of Irepodun/Orolu Traditional Council will not descend so low to engage in any form of crime, taking hostage or kidnapping of innocent citizens, destruction of economic trees, criminal trespass on Ilobu land or any other community land for that matter, and threat to lives and properties of farmers nor will the Olufon of Ifon-Osun encourage any person(s) to involve in any act of crime that is detrimental to the peaceful co-existence of Ifon community and its neighbors.
“We state that the allegation of Olobu and his community that the Olufon of Ifon has armed thugs and hit squad led by Chief Sikiru Mustapha [Baale Isangbe], High Chief Musefiu Kasali of Isangbe, and Chief Fatai Muideen [Baale Alabata] to disturb or making threat of violent attack against the people of Ilobu in villages and farm settlements is untrue, false, baseless, unfounded and is an attempt to bring the reputation of the Olufon of Ifon and his community to disrepute.
“We categorically state that the metropolis called Apiponroro and Alabata in which Ilobu illegally called Iludun and the rural districts like Isangbe, Gbere-Odofin, Oke-Ekutu, Kuti, Opapa, Alaiko, Osun-Eesa, Ebu-Oba, Oluronbi, Olode, Tegbe, Apata, Gbogbo, Mota, Pafa, Oguntunde, Kajola, Idi-Iroko and other adjoining villages and farm settlements do not belong to Olobu and they are not situated in Ilobu; but they all belong to Ifon-Osun community from time immemorial.
“Olufon of Ifon, Oba Peter Ipadeola Akinyooye III, is a peace-loving Ruler, and since he ascended the throne of his ancestors, he has been working tirelessly to ensure peace and orderliness in both his community and the entire Irepodun and Orolu Traditional Council.
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“The people that are farming on the Ifon lands with the consent of His Royal Majesty and its community traditionally and willingly pay tributes [isakole] to the various land owners in Ifon Osun community in recognition of the right of ownership and traditional title to the land being used for farming. This is not peculiar to Ifon-Osun alone but a standard practice in all Yoruba communities. The statement by the Olobu that the Olufon of Ifon demanded the payment of tributes [isakole] is highly absurd and far from the truth since the land from time immemorial belonged to Olufon, the customary landlord.
“Chief Sikiru Mustapha, who is the Baale of Isangbe, High Chief Musefiu Kasali of Isangbe,, and Chief Fatai Muidee,n, who is the Baale of Alabata, all in Ifon-Osun are all responsible, respectf, ul, and distinguished Chiefs of Olufon of Ifon Osun and are neither leaders nor heads of armed men and any imaginary hit squads.
“On the 10th of November, 2024, Mr Rafiu Ogunwande and Najeem Ogunwande were reported to the Police when they arrived on Ifon land with guns, and the Police acted swiftly by arresting and detaining them accordingly, and it is totally untrue that the Olufon of Ifon arrested them and detained them in his palace.
“We insist that Isangbe belongs in whole to Ifon-Osun, and we, therefore, rebut the allegation that Olufon is carrying out any mining activity on any land belonging to Ilobu. Such could only have existed in the futile and mischievous imagination of its peddlers, and should be discountenanced.”
The Ifon-Osun indigenes through the statement, demanded an apology from the Olobu for allegedly calling their monarch a terrorist.
“It is very uncharitable, ungodly, and disrespectful for Olobu and his people to refer to our highly reputable, peace-loving, and revered king as a terrorist and to also regard his noble chiefs as leaders of armed thugs and hit squads, all in the attempt to acquire the land that does not belong to them. We seriously take an exemption to these and we demand an unreserved apology for the false and malicious allegations and labeling.
“The cry that the false allegation of nefarious acts of Olufon of Ifon and his people might lead to another communal clash is a flimsy excuse for Olobu and his people to resort to violence because they are not committed to peaceful resolution as they keep on trespassing on the BUFFER ZONE created by the State Government as a preliminary step towards peaceful resolution of the land dispute. We call on the government and security agencies to please take note of this latest development emanating from Ilobu community.”
The statement further asked security agencies to call Olobu for questioning for raising false alarms.
“We request that the security agencies should rather beam their searchlights on Olobu and his community for raising a baseless and unfounded allegation against the Olufon of Ifon and his community, all with the aim to fraudulently take possession of the land that does not belong to them. We also regard it as a calculated and orchestrated plan to mislead and confuse the public, the government, and the security agencies.
“Contrary to the position of Olobu and his community that the purported nefarious activities and provocation by the people of Ifon Osun is what led to the communal clashes that occurred between 17th of September, 2023 to 7th of October, 2023, we hold that the position is not true and is a total distortion of facts as the whole world knew that it was Ilobu people that attacked Ifon suddenly without a scintilla of provocation by Ifon people and our people had to defend themselves and their properties when they were pushed to the wall,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, two of the Chiefs accused of leading thugs to harass Ilobu Indigenes, Chief Sikiru Mustapha, and Chief Fatai Muideen, while speaking with newsmen, vehemently denied the allegations.
The two chiefs said the Olobu was the one beating the drum of war, urging security agencies to promptly intervene and call the monarch to order.
Also, some indigenes of Ilobu who were farming on Ifon-Osun land, while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, denied any form of harassment.
The Ilobu indigenes who do not mention their names for fear of attack, said their host community (Ifon) has been good to them.
Kazeem Badmus is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience. A professional in journalism and media writing, Kazeem prioritses accuracy and factual reportage of issues. He is also a dexterous finder of the truth with conscious delivery of unbiased and development oriented stories.
