Ogun: Ogun monarchs trade words over land dispute
The Aboro of Iboro in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Abayomi Salako, his chiefs and residents of the community have warned the Olu of Imasayi, Oba Luqmon Kuoye, to stop encroaching on their lands.
The people of Iboro said Imasayi indigenes are their tenants, claiming that the present settlement occupied by Imasayi was given to them by their ancestors.
It was gathered that Imasayi residents, had in 2021 attacked Iboro traditionalists, who were in Imasayi to perform their annual rites on the land they said belonged to them.
A few days ago, the Olu of Imasayi was said to have addressed journalists at the Igan Okoto-Ayetoro road being constructed by the Ogun State Government in the area, claiming ownership.
But the Oba of Iboro, while addressing the press on Wednesday, said there is not supposed to be any land dispute between Iboro and Imasayi, adding that “the records are there for everybody to see unless you want to be partial.”
Describing himself as a peace-loving person, who would never condone violence, Oba Salako said, “the fact remains that the land in question is for Iboro.”
He stressed that “Imasayi does not have a single plot of land on that road, so I’m wondering how could the road be named Imasayi-Ayetoro road?”
His words: “There have been series of violence between Iboro and Imasayi and I told their monarch that I will not condone violence; anybody that fights will be reprimanded and that is my own point. There is no reason for it (violence). The government is there to look into it.
“Let the government come into the matter, if we disagree, then we go to court. There is no need for fighting, I don’t believe in that.”
In his message to the Olu of Imasayi, the Aboro asked him to go back to the elders in his community before trespassing.
Contacted, the Olu of Imasayi said the road had been known to be Imasayi-Ayetoro Road from time immemorial, adding that reporters from the state government usually visit him for comments on the level of work done.
“From time immemorial, it is crystal clear that that road is Imasayi-Igan Okoto-Ayetoro road. They have played a lot of politics, requesting that the name, Imasayi should be removed, but the government said that’s what is in the document in the state archive,” the Oba of Imasayi stated.
