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By Raymond Osho
ABEOKUTA – Over 40 communities in Sagamu Local Government of Ogun on Thursday, March 4, 2021, embarked on a protest over a land grabbing allegedly being sponsored by the Oniranike of Iranike, Oba Adewale Adeniji.
The protesting communities include Oke-Rala, Kaniyi, Idarinka, Ewulisa, Ipa, Alawin, Ewu-Odofin, Simawa and environs.
The protesters, comprising youths and elderly people stormed the palaces of the Akarigbo of Remoland and that of Ewusi of Makun Kingdom with placards, bearing various inscriptions such as “Sagamu Frown Against Grabbers, Justice and Peace is All We Want, Akarigbo, We Want Solution to Land grabbing” among others.
The Makun-Sagamu Youth President, Kalejaye Adeyemi who led the protest lamented that the alleged illegal activities of Oba Adewale had lingered for more than five years, recalling that many community members died while trying to escape during the attacks launched by the land grabbers.
He alleged that their aged parents had also been forced to vacate the communities due to the threat posed before them by the land grabbers.
Narrating the issue, Adeyemi said the Monarch claimed that the pieces of land belong to his forefathers and therefore, brought the land grabbers to the community to claim ownership of the land and sold it at auction prices to outsiders.
His words, “Oba Adewale brought some land grabbers to our communities in order to claim our land as his own and they are selling it at cheaper prices. They have sent our fathers and mothers away from the villages. Our parents can’t stay because of the menace.”
The protesters appealed to the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, saying “we want governor Abiodun and the Akarigbo to deliver us from the hand of this land grabbers and Oba Adewale.”
Reacting to the protesters lamentation, the Akarigbo however assured them of lasting peace in the affected communities with a pledge to invite the alleged Oba Adewale for investigation on the matter.
Oba Babatunde Ajayi explained that though, he wasn’t hearing about the issue for the first time, having heard from the protesters, he would also call the traditional ruler involved to hear from him and ask him to come along with necessary documents saying that he would ensure nobody is cheated over this matter.
The Paramount Ruler of Remoland said, “I just want you all to continue to be patient and maintain peace, don’t resort to self help because it is easy to start a war, but to end it might be very difficult. I will definitely call for the meeting of all the traditional rulers in Remoland for a way forward over this matter, if need be, we might set up a committee to help look into this issue, but be rest assured that the matter would receive adequate attention”.
However, when contacted, the Oniranike denied the allegation, insisting that he was not a land grabber adding that the controversial land belonged to his forefathers.
He further hinted that he had a court judgement of April 1, 2018 which confirmed that the land belongs to his family.
