Ogun community sends SOS to Amosun over land disputes

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NIGERIA: INDIGENES of Imala, a Yewa community in Ogun State, have alerted the government over the invasion of their community by those they called land grabbers.

The development is worrisome to the extent that the residents of the community have appealed to the government of Senator Ibikunle Amosun to wade in and save their lands before the situation would lead to crisis.

The Omola of Imala, Oba (Apostle) Moses Olabode, alerted the government last Friday at a press conference held in his palace in Imala.

Oba Olabode, who was accompanied by his chiefs at the press conference, stated that the activities of the land grabbers should be checkmated quickly, while citing the example of the Afon people who attempted to claim Obada community.

According to the royal father, contrary to the claim of Afon people, Obada is a suburb of Imala and remains ‎under the jurisdiction of his territory.

“The present day adventurous tendencies of land grabbers who may likely extend their areas should be checked,” he said, adding: “‎Merging people with distinct differences in origin, history, culture and dialect may be disastrous and sheer looking for trouble.”

Oba Olabode drew the attention of Amosun to the fact that he should not allow recolonization of the people due to the moves of the land grabbers.

He said: “The willingness of the people to belong should be respected otherwise you will be recolonizing people.  I must say it categorically that historically Imala do not share any boundary with Afon, but Imeko.”

“If you like you may investigate this truth,” the royal father told Amosun, while adding: “The boundary is at Mile 17 on Abeokuta-Imeko Road at Idi-Ayin, two kilometres from Obada market.”

Oba Olabode, a former unionist, enjoined citizens of Imala to remain calm, peace-loving and tow the path of peace in the face of all provocations and oppositions to their stand.

He stated that Amosun, as fountain of justice in the state, should ensure that Obada in Abeokuta North Local Government and Ogun Central Senatorial District is not ceded to Afon Local Council Development Area, which falls within Ogun West Senatorial District.

He narrated that Obada had never been a ward as being claimed by Imeko-Afon people, while supporting his stand with an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) directory on polling booths which did not have Obada as a polling ward.

He said: “Obada has never been a ward; INEC document attests to this.  We are appealing that Obada should not be ceded to Afon.  We shall continue to fight our cause through legal means and constitutionally, we shall not be violent and we shall also take our case to God.”

Oba Olabode similarly charged Amosun not to fall to the pressure of some people in making wrong decisions over the controversial development.