The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale, has faulted the purported claim by the palace of Olubadan, Oba Akinloye Olakulehin, that Odo Oba is the boundary between Ibadan in Oyo State and Iwo in Osun State.
Oluwo described the claim 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.
He advised the palace of Olubadan to respect the government represented by the police and the NBC and restrain from comments likely to fuel further destruction in the area.
Oluwo affirmed Papa Ebira as the established boundary of Iwo with a map officially demarcated in 1991 when Osun was created out of the old Oyo State.
He revealed the affected villages such as Paku, Ogunajo, Oloola Molamu, Papa, Tifede, Ejemu are all ancestral villages of Iwo with Osun State Government facilities and polling units presence.
A statement released by Oluwo and made available to newsmen through his press secretary, Alli Ibraheem on Saturday reads: “I read the statement credited to Olubadan palace, Oba Akinloye Olakulehin, that Oba 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 in 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 when 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,” Oluwo said.
