Disagreement Arises Between Ondo Community and Ogun Deputy Governor Over Land Dispute
The Irokun community, situated in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, has disputed the claim made by Ogun State’s Deputy Governor, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, regarding the ownership of the community, asserting that it rightfully belongs to Ogun State.
Salako-Oyedele recently urged the Ondo State Government to address what she perceived as encroachment by Ondo citizens into Ogun territory and alleged attacks on indigenous communities along the shared border of the two states. She also expressed concerns about the alleged imposition of Adeyinka Abejoye-Ogunyemi as a leader in the community, deeming it illegal and a case of impersonation.
However, the Irokun community responded by addressing a letter to the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, signed by their secretary, Emmanuel Ogunbajo. In the letter titled ‘Re: Stop Incessant Attacks on Our Communities, Ogun Urges Ondo State,’ they refuted the allegations and suggested that the Ogun State Deputy Governor may have been misinformed about the boundary issue.
The community’s statement emphasized that numerous historical documents supported the fact that Irokun is indeed an Ilaje community located in Ondo State. They stated that Irokun’s people are Ilaje, who speak the pure Ilaje-Yoruba dialect within the boundaries of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The statement further explained the historical lineage of leadership in Irokun, disputing the claims made by Ogun State about the traditional rulership. They provided evidence of historical documentation dating back to the early 20th century, including a letter from the District Officer of Ijebu-Ode in 1920, which confirmed that Irokun was not within Ijebu territory.
The Irokun community cited an archival document from 1937, in which the Olurokun of Irokun traced his ancestry to Ilaje and requested that his kingdom remain part of the Mahin (Ilaje) District. The National Boundary Commission had conducted an extensive ethnographic study to determine the dispute, resulting in the rejection of Ogun State’s expansionist claims.
In conclusion, the Irokun community affirmed its allegiance to Ondo State and declared its commitment to maintaining the status quo, emphasizing that Irokun is an integral part of Ilaje and Ondo State, despite any external pressures or claims to the contrary.
