The Oluwo of Iwo, Ọba AbdulRosheed Adéwálé Akanbi, has insisted that the land currently under dispute between his state, Osun, and Oyo belongs to his state.
The Oluwo stated this in direct reaction to a recent declaration by the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, over the boundary dispute between both Ibadan and Iwo.
OYOINSIGHT.COM recalls that in a recent statement by the Olubadan, he declared that Iwo town has no claim over the disputed boundary area, arguing that the Oba River has been the long-established boundary between the city of Ibadan and Iwo town.
Responding in a statement made available to newsmen through his press secretary, Alli Ibraheem, the Oluwo described the claim from the Olubadan that Odo Ọba is the boundary between Ibadan and Iwo as false, incoherent, blatant distortion of facts and a deliberate plot to heighten the tension of the original land owners and cause chaos in the affected areas.
“I read the statement credited to Olubadan palace, Ọba Akinloye Olakulehin, that Ọba River is the boundary of Iwo with Ibadan, with dismay, coming at a critical moment when the AIG Zone XI, Emuobo Fred Ekokotu, is making a concerted efforts to restore peace at the affected villages. Just two days ago, he invited the two parties to his office and tentatively directed the duo to stay off the affected villages”
“As a peace loving father to the nation, I calmed the people of these villages. I encouraged them to respect the decision of the AIG and await the report of the National Boundary Commission. Any other message is an affront on the NBC and the police representing the government in resolving the dispute permanently ”
“For record purposes, Papa Ebira is the boundary of Iwo with Ibadan, well demarcated in the map since 1991 when Osun was carved out of Oyo State. The disputed villages are ancestral properties of Iwo even before the creation of Ibadan. And there was never a time in history Iwo and Ibadan fought and won part of each other’s land”
“Leaders of most of the warlords who fought for Ibadan hailed from Iwo. Balogun Ali Iwo, Ogun mola, Oderinlo and a few others migrated from Iwo to Ibadan”
“The appropriate time has come to permanently resolve the land dispute. Let’s conduct ourselves and encourage our subjects to be law abiding. No one is greater than the government. We should allow the government to do their job. Peace is priceless and should be promoted,” his statement read.
