The people of Ilobu in Irepodun local government area of Osun State have reacted to what they described as a “unintelligible and laughable falsehood” released by the Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Ifon-Osun Progressives Union, Prince Jide Akinyooye over ongoing battle between Ifon and Iranyin town in Surulere local government area of Oyo State.
According to a statement by the National Public Relations Officer of Ilobu-Asake Development Union, Mr Tairu Babatunde, the community lambasted Akinyooye and other stakeholders in Ifon-Osun for “lacking knowledge of history” which led him to calling Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Asiru Olatoye Olaniyan a Chief under Olufon.
“The unintelligible claim that His Royal Highness, Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan II (JP) is of Baale status is laughable and complete falsehood. History is important in understanding the present, but a shallow and hollow appreciation of the past is dangerous for the present. The ancestors of the people of Ifon-Osun did not tell such a fable that Olobu of Ilobu is a chief under Olufon of Ifon-Osun or if they were able to tell it, the public is aware that the historical antecedents and judicial pronouncements in the court cases between Ilobu and Ifon-Osun completely negate their fable.
“The falsehood that Olobu is a chief under Olufon of Ifon-Osun is what the people of Ifon-Osun wanted the public to believe. But the public is not as gullible as the author(s) of the said hollow piece, called a press statement. The author(s), in their bid to do the job of a griot, have failed woefully.
“This time is not the auspicious time for the people of Ifon-Osun to tell such a fable when, this year, 2024, Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan, II (J.P) will, by the grace of God, celebrate his 50th reign as an Oba, with pomp and pageantary, just like his predecessors who had reigned in Ilobu. What a pity!”
The IDU said Olobu had hands in the installation of some individuals as Baales in some villages in Oyo State.
“Similarly, in the said press statement, the people of Ifon-Osun shamelessly made false claim that Olobu of Ilobu and people of Ilobu are conspirators in the alleged conspiracy to cede some border settlements, which include Idi-Iroko; Ologele; Bara Odunayo; Bara Oloso (otherwise known as “Okiti Oloso”), Wale; Bada; Abebi (otherwise known as ‘’Abule Amao or Abule Aganna’’); Laniyan (now wrongly suffixed ‘’Molufon’’); Bolorunduro e.t.c. to Oyo State. This claim is not true in its entirety.This is another falsehood designed by the people of Ifon-Osun to cause disaffection between the Osun State Government and the people of Ilobu.
“Historically, the people who live and farm on the vast fertile land at the border settlements between Oyo and Osun State, which include Idi-Iroko (near Ologele); Ologele; Bara Odunayo; Bara Oloso (otherwise known as “Okiti Oloso”), Wale; Bada; Abebi (otherwise known as ‘’Abule Amao or Abule Aganna’’); Laniyan (now wrongly suffixed ‘’Molufon’’); Bolorunduro e.t.c. are indigenes of Ilobu, Osun State.However, they have been in their various settlements for centuries on the permission of Aresaadu of Iresaau as their overlord through Aranyin of Iranyin in Surulere Local Government, Oyo State.Some of their ancestors or forebearers or some previous setllers who who were also indigenes of Ilobu had, in the past made the customary head (Baale) of their settlement by past Aranyin of Iranyin under the authority of past Aresa
“Because of the industrious nature of the indigenes of Ilobu, thousands of Ilobu indigenes are scattered all over the World and Nigeria in particular, where, because of the good characters and conducts they exhibit at all time in their settlement, they have been made the traditional heads (Baale) or Oba in their various domains. Just like the present situation in the said border settlements between Oyo and Osun States under reference, hundreds of Ilobu indigenes are made Obas and Baales and reign in many settlements in Olorunda, Ife South and Egbedore Local Government Areas of Osun State and settlements in Edo, Ogun, Ondo and Oyo States and elsewhere in Adamawa and Niger States of Norther Nigeria, whithout making recourse to Olobu before their appointment and installation.”
The truth the people of Ifon-Osun forget to tell the Government of Osun State, the Police Authorities and members of the public is that they dishonoured most brazenly the terms of the Peace Agreement mid-wifed by the Osun State Government and signed on the 6th day of October, 2023 right from the night of the 6th day of October, 2023.”
Ilobu accused the people of Ifon-Osun as being behind ongoing war against Ilobu indigenes in villages.
The truth the people of Ifon-Osun forget to tell the Government of Osun State, the Police Authorities and members of the public is that they dishonoured most brazenly the terms of the Peace Agreement mid-wifed by the Osun State Government and signed on the 6th day of October, 2023 right from the night of the 6th day of October, 2023.
Up till now the war machinaries and hoodlums being sponsored and actively encouraged by the people of Ifon-Osun are still moving around with sophisticated weapons, arms and ammunitions, hounding the settlements for indigenes of Ilobu to kill and continuing with the destruction of the houses, economic trees, farms, items of property and stealing of farm products belonging to indigenes of Ilobu in the afore-mentioned border settlements, which include Idi-Iroko (near Ologele); Ologele; Bara Odunayo; Bara Oloso (otherwise known as “Okiti Oloso”), Wale; Bada; Abebi (otherwise known as ‘’Abule Amao or Abule Aganna’’); Laniyan (now wrongly suffixed ‘’Molufon’’); Bolorunduro e.t.c. and other settlements on the land of Ilobu, which include Alaiko, Osun, Mota, Gbena, Gbogbo, Aba Erin, Owode, Apata, Olode, Kajola, Idi-Iroko (near Kajola) e.t.c.
Thus, the real cause of the installation of Baale in the said settlements on the land of Aresa of Iresaadu by Arayin of Iranyin, in Surulere Local Government is the people of Ifon-Osun themselves. The Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan II does not have royal authority to control Aranyin of Iranyin not to superintend his domain.
