Communities under the Egba-Egbado council in Ogun state, have accused the Olota of Ota, Prof Kabiru Adeyemi Obalanlege of alleged incursion into their ancestral land.
The representatives of the 62 towns and villages of Gbalefa Peninsula in Ado-Odo-Ota Local Government Area alleged that the monarch had installed Baales with existing Baales, which according to them is outside his jurisdiction.
Speaking with newsmen at a press conference held in Abeokuta, the state capital, the Secretary of the council, Chief Olaniyi Mosaku stated that land grabbers backed by the monarch drove out indigenous people who had farms and forcibly seized their lands.
”We the representatives of the sixty-two (62) towns and villages of Gbalefa
Peninsula in Ado-Odo / Ota Local Government, Ogun State are compelled to call the attention of the Ogun State Government and all peace loving indigenes and residents of our Gateway State to the disturbing activities of the Olota of Ota, Professor Adeyemi Obalanlege, that are capable of disrupting public peace.
“In other to push his agenda, Olota started installing Baales in areas where there are existing Baales of Yewa and Egba extractions outside his jurisdiction of Ota.
” Examples abound in Iju, Mesan, Atan, Oke-Ore, Adekoyeni, Kajola Ibooro, Ajibawo, Ayidigun, Akinde, Orita, Ajambata, Ilewo-Alaga etc.
” Thugs and land grabbers were and
are being used to drive away the indigenous people who are largely farm owners and their lands forcefully taken from them.
“We are not unmindful that Olota Prof Kabir Adeyemi Obalanlege’s goal, through the imposition and installations of Baales outside his domain in our territories, is simply driven by his lust for land for personal benefits”, he said
They however called on the state government to wade into the matter before it becomes confrontational, leading to bloodshed
The Council of Baales also made an appeal to the state’s attorney general, pointing out that the majority of their cases had been pending for more than a decade.
Meanwhile, the Olota of Ota in his reaction noted that the Gbalefa in question has no root in the history of the community, alleging that they only sort refuge in his domain in the past.
“There is nothing like Gbalefa in Ogun State or in Ota. It is their backers that are causing the unrest and toxic environment for us in Ogun State and it is not acceptable. The government has made it clear several times that there is nothing like Gbalefa, it is not even in the map of Ogun State. The court has said there is nothing like Gbalefa.
“Where they are claiming is part of Otaland. They live on our land. If they want Egbaland, they should go to Abeokuta South or Abeokuta North. They came to live in our land.
“Their traditional rulers are backing them because they are Egba people. They are our guests, they came to farm on our land and decided to live there. The land belongs to us. They are not Baales. Who appointed them? Can you go to another land and become traditional rulers over the indigenes in their land? It is not possible,” Olota said.