…Villagers susceptible to cholera due to lack of Clean Water
…as Monarch describes ‘Baales’ as non-indigenes
Five Village Heads from Agboro, Latunde, Olorode, Agbelu, Odedola, Akero, and Sagalu communities in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State have accused the Olu of Obafemi, Oba Taofeeek Owolabi, of unlawfully taken over 500 hectares of their land and also destroyed the only source of drinking water within the villages.
Addressing newsmen on Friday, the Baale of Agboro, Chief Isaac Oguntoyinbo, and the Baale of Latunde, Chief Sunday Olatunde, and other village heads explained that some “hoodlums with dangerous weapons invaded their communities and started to clear hectares land belonging to the seven Villages on December 24, 2023.
“At the end of this exercise, about 500 hectares of land were cleared and pegged. This was followed by the arrival of bulldozers to clear the lands including all the cash crops like kola nut, cocoa, cashew, mango, palm trees, plantain, cassava, maize and other food crops like vegetables, tomatoes and pepper planted on them.
“The only source of water has also been damaged and the road to the only public school (Sagalu Muslim school) fenced off,” the village heads said.
According to them, efforts to stop the “wanton destruction” proved abortive as the fiercely looking men who came to forcefully take over the land were bent on fulfilling their mission.
“Enquiries as to who could be behind this reveal that the present Olu of Obafemi, Oba Taofeek Owolabi Kayode was responsible. We were then happy to note that no son or daughter of our communities was involved in either the sale of our land or this forceful takeover.
“We then made a representation to the Olu of Obafemi to find out what could have happened and were shocked when he offered us money. This offer was of course rejected because no one was ready to sell a land that is used to feed the family,” it was said.
The community leaders and their subjects said they were offered N200,000 per acre by the Oba Owolabi, but they rejected the offer.
As the nation battles the cholera outbreak, the villagers say they now source water from unclean sources following the blockage of their only water source.
The villagers threatened to take legal action if nothing is done to stop the alleged takeover of their land, appealing to Governor Dapo Abiodun and the Alake of Egba to wade in.
Go to court – Monarch
Reacting to the allegations of forcible takeover of land in Agoro and others, the monarch asked the people to go to court.
He also urged them to bring out their papers if they were sure of the ownership of the said land.
The monarch stated that the majority of those accusing him of land grabbing were non-indigenes with no ancestral link to the village.
“I am the prescribed authority over the lands in my domain in Orile Ijeun, not the Alake. I have a root in Agboro. I have family members there. Those accusing me of taking over their lands should seek legal redress,” the monarch stated, calling on individuals with genuine claims to approach him instead of disrespecting the crown.
Below is the extract of the Speech by the Village Heads
ADDRESS BY AGBORO AND OLATUNDE COMMUNITIES ON FORCIBLE ENTRY/ TAKE OVER OF OUR LANDS BY SOME UNKNOWN PERSONS, TODAY 28TH JUNE, 2024 AT VILLAGE SQUARE, AGBORO VIA OBAFEMI MARKET ABEOKIUTA.
The Baale of Agboro Village, Mr. Oguntoyinbo Isaac Idowu, The Baale of Olatunde Village, Mr.
Olatunde Sunday Akintola other Baales here present, leaders from the two villages, sons and daughters of Agboro and Olatunde, gentlemen of the Press, ladies and gentlemen. I have the honour of welcoming you all to this very special occasion in the history of our
villages. Agboro, Olatunde, Olorode, Agbelu, Odedola, Akero, Sagalu and other surrounding
villages located in the Obafemi area of Obafemi/Owode Local Government of Ogun State
Our history dated back to 1830 and we have cohabited here for as long as history can record without any rancor or fight either within ourselves or with our neighbours.
We are predominantly farmers specializing in cassava, colanut, cocoa, maize etc. Most of our family lands here are handed down from generations to generations and without doubt, each family knows their family land boundaries.
About seven months ago, precisely 24th December, 2023, some hoodlums armed with dangerous weapons invaded our communities and started to clear our lands.
At the end of this exercise, about 500 hectares of land were cleared and pegged. This was followed by the arrival of bulldozer to clear the lands including all the cash crops like, colanut, cocoa, cashew, mango, palm trees, plantain, cassava, maize and other food crops like vegetables, tomatoes and pepper planted on them. Source of water have also been damaged and road to only public school (Sagalu Muslim school) fenced off.
Efforts to stop this wanton destruction proved abortive as the fiercely looking men that came to forcefully take over the land were bent on fulfilling their mission.
Enquiries as to who could be behind this reveal that the present OLU OF OBAFEMI, OBA TAOFEEK OWOLABI KAYODE was responsible. We were then happy to note that no son or daughter of our communities was involved in either the sales of our land or this forceful
takeover.
We then made a representation to the OLU OF OBAFEMI OBA TAOFEEK OWOLABI KAYODE with a view to finding out what could have happened and were shocked when he offered us money. This offer was of course rejected because no one was ready to sell a land that is used to
feed the family.
When we noticed that efforts to take over more lands were intensified, we wrote a petition to
The Alake of Egbaland,
Office of the Executive Governor of Ogun State,
The Executive Chairman, Obafemi Owode Local Government,
The inspection general of police,
Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Commissioner of Police, Ogun state Command
The Ogun State House of assembly speaker through the chairman house committee on Ethics,
Justice and public pettions.
Ministry of Land,
Ministry of justice,
Ministry of health and Environment,
Ministry of Community Development and Cooperative.
The impact on the affected families, and the steps tuking to address these unlawful activities
The press conference is aims to foster a greater understanding of the severity of the issues and to galvanize support from all stakeholders to protect the rights and properties of the Agbara and Olatunde communities. But all peaceful means to resolve this issue were rebuffed.
As we speak, fences have been erected on the cleared land of over 500 hectares, Billbounds, advertising sale of lands have also been erected. Just a couple of weeks ago, allocation of land to prospective and unsuspecting buyers were done on our ancestral land when we did not sell our lands to anyone.
We are therefore appealing to well meaning Nigerians especially the highly referred rayal father, HIS MAJESTY OBA AREMU GBADEBO to call the OLU OF OBAFEMI, OBA TROFEEX OWOLABI KAYODE to order and our peace loving GOVERNOR, PRINCE DAPO ABIODUN, MFR by applying the recently signed Executive Order to safe us from hunger, cholera outbreaks and possible extinction.
Thank you for your support and attention.
MR OGUNTOYINBO ISAAC IDOWU (RTD)
Baale Agboro village
