The Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adesuyi Haastrup, has warned land grabbers to steer clear of the six local government areas in the Ijesa axis in Osun State or face dire consequences.
Oba Haastrup described land grabbing as deplorable, declaring that his earlier ban on such unscrupulous activities in his domain remained in force.
The monarch handed down the warning over the weekend while inaugurating the reconstituted Land Matters and Chieftaincy Affairs Committee in his palace.
The eight-member committee, led by Pa Ebenezer Adefalu, has Prof. Kola Kazeem as secretary, while other members are Oba Peter Adebamigbe, Rev. Abiodun Osungbohun, Mr. Isaac Orolugbagbe, Prof. Olu Obi, Ms. Yemisi Ariyibi and Chief Daramola Daisi.
Hon. Justice Adedotun Onibokun will serve as honorary consultant to the committee.
Speaking during the inauguration, Oba Haastrup noted that some chiefs were allegedly engaging in land grabbing, recalling that he had engaged those involved privately to put an end to such development.
“Some of the chiefs I inherited are involved and I am engaging them in private. I am also going to play a role. Any security agent that is supporting land grabbing activities, I will report him to the higher authority. Such an operative should be transferred out of Ijesaland,” the monarch said.
The monarch further explained that a committee led by a former Osun State Deputy Governor, Erelu Olusola Obada, had considered the integrity of the nominees before they were selected to serve on the committee, charging them to discharge their duties with integrity and without fear.
“I have therefore made my position clear: the unlawful activities of persons known as Omo Onile, or anyone who uses the name of land ownership or community authority to harass, intimidate or extort genuine landowners and developers, have no place in ljesaland.
“Anyone who demands unlawful payments, threatens people, obstructs legitimate development or takes the law into their own hands must be reported to the appropriate authorities and dealt with according to the law. No custom, title, family claim or personal influence can be a licence for oppression.
“Our people should not confuse this directive with a denial of legitimate family, communal or customary rights,” Oba Haastrup remarked.
He, however, implored traditional rulers , chiefs, families, landowners, developers, investors, community leaders and the residents to cooperate with the committee for it to achieve its mandate.
“Bring forward facts and documents. Respect boundaries and lawful decisions. Do not inflame disputes through rumours, threats or self-help. Where a matter belongs before a statutory authority or court, allow it to be dealt with through the proper channel,” he said.
“Let no person leave your process feeling that the truth was ignored because another person was more powerful. Let no community be denied peace because a dispute was allowed to fester. Let no title be bestowed without the character and integrity that ought to accompany it.”
Responding on behalf of the committee, its chairman, Pa Ebenezer Adefalu, assured that their task would be discharged with commitment and integrity.
