The Aragbiji of Iragbiji land, Oba Abdurasheed Ayotunde Olabomi has cautioned the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji not to cause communal clash between Iragbiji and Osogbo over land dispute.
The monarch stated this during a press conference held at his Palace on Thursday, adding that boundaries of the land has been defined since 1905.
Oba Olabomi accused the Ataoja of trying to cause trouble by airing a jingle on Tuesday, through a private Radio station in Osogbo, where he “laid claim to the land between Omu River which is our common boundary and Boredun which is an Ilase community on the right and Iragbiji Community on the left on Osogbo/Obokun Road”.
The Monarch emphasised that the boundary between Iragbiji and Osogbo had been settled since 1905.
He said, “appeals against the 1905 decision as well as Administrative inquiries all attest to the authenticity of River Omu as the boundary between Iragbiji and Osogbo. In 2022, Oba Oyetunji whipped up political sentiments laying spurious claims to Iragbiji land.
“Osogbo community took the matter to the State Boundary Commission, which eventually concurred with te established Omu River boundary”, he explained.
Oba Olabomi stated ever since then peace had remained until Ataoja started a fresh threat to the existing peace.
He challenged the Ataoja to “rather than subtle mitigation of the people against Iragbiji through Radio announcements should approach the Court of law, if he has any iota of claim.
“The boundary between the two communities remains Omu River, no amount of intimidation, harassment or threat will allow the people of Iragbiji to leave any part of our land to the Ataoja who is on an expansionist mission “, he added.
He called on President Bola Tinubu, Governor Ademola Adeleke and security agencies to “caution Oba Jimoh Oyetunji to put a stop to his unabated expansionist tendencies lest he cause needless communal clash.”
Efforts to reach the Ataoja has not been successful but a Palace source said the monarch may speak on the matter later.
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