Boundary Dispute: Ifon-Orolu calls on Osun govt, security agencies to prevail on Ilobu not to cause another crisis
The Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union (IPU), on Monday, called on Osun State government, security agencies as a matter of urgency to prevail on the Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Olatoye Olaniyan, and people of Ilobu not to cause another communal crisis between the people of Ifon-Orolu and Ilobu.
IPU maintained that the call became necessary in the overall interest of peaceful co-existence between the two communities.
In a statement signed by Prince Jide Adelaja Akinyooye, on behalf of IPU, the group stated that it has become necessary to call the attention of Osun State Government and security agencies to the alleged grand schemes by the people of Ilobu community to cause mayhem that would reignite a fresh communal clash between the people of Ilobu and the ancient Ifon-Osun Kingdom.
According to findings, we gathered that the disputed parcel of land is said to be the boundary of the two towns.
Reacting to the allegation, the National President of Ilobu Asake Development Union, Pastor Oluremi Salako described the statement credited to Prince Jide Akinyooye as spurious and unfounded.
He affirmed that nobody from Ilobu is developing or making efforts to commence development on the disputed land at Gbere area, IDU warned that if there was any breach of peace between the people of Ilobu and people of Ifon-Osun, Prince Jide Akinyooye and his financiers should be blamed and held responsible.
According to him, “To put the record straight, the residents of the Opapa approached the Olobu for assistance to get some drainage culverts fixed ahead of the rainy season.
“This was after they had made frantic efforts on their own to fix the structure that may later make the road totally impassable. This is in preparation for the rainy season as the road is critical to the transportation of farm items to urban centers.
“The monarch, being a father to all, swiftly mobilised his personal resources to aid in fixing the road and get the culvert done. This rehabilitation is ongoing in Opapa not Gbere as alleged.
“We also wish to express that Opapa village is different from Gbere and it’s about 5km from each other. Opapa exclusively belongs to Ilobu and has never been a subject of dispute. Uncontroverted documentary evidence is available to support this. Annexing it to Gbere by the Ifon-Osun people is mischievous. Opapa is not Gbere!”
IDU maintained that Oba Olaniyan and indeed the people of Ilobu are law abiding citizens of Osun State who have been living peacefully with people of Ifon-Osun even in the face of unnecessary acts of provocation.
Recall that in February, 2021, there were communal clashes between the two communities which share a common boundary in the State.
As a result of the clash, lives were lost, a development which made the administration of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola declare a curfew in both Irepodun Local Government (Ilobu) and Orolu Local Government (Ifon-Orolu).
