Crisis rocking about 10 communities in Ondo East Local Government Area over land ownership has taken fresh dimension on Thursday as another group of farmers and natives of the communities protested and disowned two persons claiming to be traditional rulers who are currently in detention.
They claimed that the traditional rulers, the Olu of Igba Community, Oba Sina Olayele, and Olu of Uloko Agboden, HRH Moses Awonusi Apalara were self-acclaimed and had ceased to be chairmen of the communities.
Specifically speaking on the allegation that the Ojo Ajisafe family was an invader, Ademola Ajibade, the Spokesperson for the protesters, explained journalists at the NUJ Press Centre, Akure, Ondo State capital, that the traditional ruler detained in correctional facility was arrested and arraigned for allegedly attacking and injuring a farmer in the head.
Emphasising on the fact that the detainee is not a traditional ruler, they presented a letter written and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bolani Obideyi, addressed to the Chairman, Ondo East Local Government, entitled: Alleged Installation Of Olus By The Yangede Of Epe”.
The letter dated June 27, 2023 reads: “I have been direct to inform you that the circular of the State Government stands. Therefore, you are to please inform His Highness , the Yangede of Epe to stop any further appointment and installation of minor chiefs with Ondo East Local Government so as not to cause any breach of Peace in Ondo Kingdom.”
They presented Baale Agbondin, Chief Olu Faloye, who is the authentic traditional ruler of the community with a certificate issued to the effect that he was appointed and installed by the Paramount ruler and Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom.
Idowu Akinmoladun, another native, buttressed the claims of the protesters saying “We are here to appeal to the governor (Aiyedatiwa) to help us investigate this issue. They have stained the name of the Ajisafe family. We are here to clear our names.
“We’re not land grabbers. We are to tell the government to look into the matter and do proper investigation. This land we are talking about have series of court judgements, which the Ajidafe’s family won. We have four judgments on it.
“It’s also a lie that Ojo Ajisafe is not a member of the family. He’s our family member. The man that call himself a royal highness is an impostor.
“The family of Ajisafe are law-abiding and we want justice to prevail.”
The protesters, therefore, called for the intervention of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in resolving the dispute.
In a four-page letter to the governor, entitled: “Dire Need For Intervention In The Prevention Of Subversion Of Justice,” through their attorney, the protesters “urge you(the governor) to ensure that Injustice is not substituted for Justice, and the voice of the down-trodden not suppressed for a Loaf of Bread.”
The protesters also addressed another letter to the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice seeking his intervention in the crisis.
Among the inscriptions on the placards displayed by the protesters include: “Killer gang! Land Grabbers Criminals Not King”; “Our Able Governor! Curb Tenants/Land Grabbers Excesses”; ‘Iranola Is A Land Grabber, His Killer Gang Almost Killed Ojo Ajisafe”; “Renttes Crowd Can’t Undo Family Inheritance With Verified Court judgements”; among others.
