The Osogbo Development Action Group (ODAG) has urged the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to intervene in the ongoing dispute regarding land expansion and provocative statements made by the Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal.
The group is concerned that these actions are disrupting the peaceful atmosphere in Osogbo and Olorunda Local Government Areas.
The group’s Coordinator, Mr. Ajani Lukman, and Secretary, Mr. Oladejo Shuaibu, issued a statement in Osogbo addressing the documents being circulated in the media, which include survey plans, letters, and an invitation card to a purported Coronation Ceremony.
According to the documents, the Ede Monarch allegedly instructed Ajeniju of Hallelujah, Jelili Olaiya, to assert authority over landmarks belonging to Osogbo and Olorunda LGAs, labeling them as Ede Land Areas in Egbedore LGA.
The ODAG is warning that if the Timi of Ede’s aggressive actions are not stopped and the affected areas are left vulnerable to security threats, it could have negative consequences for the state.
The group is concerned that it may seem as though the governor is using his position to give preferential treatment to Ede over other towns in the state by encroaching on their lands, including Osogbo and Olorunda LGAs.
“It should be carefully noted that Ede, with its distasteful history of land grabbing tendencies around border areas, needed to come off it as the society has outgrown the archaic era of wars and conquests over lands.
The group demanded Governor Adeleke direct the Timi of Ede to immediately cancel the proposed but highly controversial coronation ceremony of Ajeniju of Hallelujah scheduled for August 30, 2024, for the sake of peace and tranquility.
“Direct the Timi of Ede to immediately cancel the proposed but highly controversial Coronation Ceremony of Ajeniju of Hallelujah scheduled for August 30th, 2024 for the sake of peace and tranquility. It’s totally absurd for a Timi’s appointed Chief to overlord on Osogbo land. It is audaciously laughable for a Timi to claim ownership of a place like Agunbelewo and other places in that axis which have never been a subject of dispute.
“Declare as misleading, invalid and inconsequential, the purported land survey sponsored by Timi of Ede showing some landmarks belonging to Osogbo and Olorunda Local Government Areas as Ede Land in Egbedore LGA.
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“Demolish all marked illegal palace and residential structures erected on acquired Oke-Osun farm settlement at Opposite Osun State Secretariat Gate, Osogbo up to Zone XI Police Headquarters. Continuous standing of the purported Alabere of Abere Ede Palace and other illegal structures on the acquired land from the Osogbo People stands contrary to the terms of acquisition as well as extant judicial and administrative pronouncements. It should be recalled that same structures have previously been declared illegal, marked and demolished for the same reason of illegality.
“The government should set up a judicial panel of inquiry to look critically into the perennial land grabbing and encroachment claims around border areas among these communities and put it to lasting rest.
“Osun State Secretariat should be properly addressed, printed on signages, government vehicles and properties, letterheads, official communications and announcements as “Osun State Secretariat, Osogbo” as against “Osun State Secretariat, Abere” which is a dubious way of eroding the heritage and constitutional recognition of Osogbo as the Capital of Osun State. It should be noted that this could be further taken up as a constitutional matter if corrections are not effected.
“The Osun State Governor should stand by his constitutional responsibilities of upholding the sanctity of the state without favour or prejudice to all citizens, towns and communities. Security of lives and properties, which are now under threats of Ede Aggression, should be paramount to the Governor and ensure peace being enjoyed in the state is not put into jeopardy.
“We encourage the government and the other cabinet members to critically study the extant judicial and administrative pronouncements on the land up to the 2010 Census Tribunal Ruling for correct guidance so that fatal mistakes are not made.
“It is bizarre and horrendously distasteful that the Ede continues to rely on fabricated cock and bull stories that do not have a place in the sacred history of the Oduduwa’s race to claim ownership of land. More embarrassing is the fact that the Ede People in their self adulation continue to think that in a 21st century Nigeria, “Day-dreaming and power-usurpation can make illegality to become legal”.
“It is instructive to note that all previous attempts by succeeding Timi(s) of Ede to claim part of Osogboland, failed in 1879, 1929, 1935, 1951, 1989, 1996, 2000, 2006 and most recently in 2010 all of which affirmed Osogbo as the rightful owner of its territorial land.
“All evidences, judgments, administrative pronouncements and records affirming the authentication of Osogbo as the legitimate owner of its territorial land are accessible.
The group, however, congratulated the Osun State Government and it’s citizens on the 33rd year anniversary of creation of the State.
