The Owa Obokun of Ijesaland in Osun State, Oba Adesuyi Hastrup, on Saturday warned his chiefs and security operatives against supporting land grabbers across the six local government areas in Ijesaland.
Oba Hastrup gave the warning during the inauguration of the reconstituted Land Matters and Chieftaincy Affairs Committee, which is responsible for addressing complaints relating to land and chieftaincy disputes in the area. He also reaffirmed his earlier ban on the activities of land grabbers in Ijesaland.
The eight-member committee is chaired by Pa Ebenezer Adefalu, with Prof Kola Kazeem serving as secretary. Other members are Oba Peter Adebamigbe, Rev Abiodun Osungbohun, Mr Isaac Orolugbagbe, Prof Olu Obi, Yemisi Ariyibi and Chief Daramola Daisi.
Justice Adedotun Onibokun will serve as the committee’s honorary consultant.
Inaugurating the committee at his palace in Ilesa, Osun State, Oba Hastrup admitted that some chiefs were involved in land grabbing, saying he was engaging those involved privately.
“Some of the chiefs I inherited are involved and I am engaging them in private. I am also going to play a role. Any security agent that supports land grabbing, I will report him to higher authorities. Such an operative should be transferred out of Ijesaland,” the monarch said.
He added that a committee led by former Osun State Deputy Governor, Erelu Olusola Obada, had assessed the integrity of the nominees before they were selected.
The monarch urged the committee members to carry out their responsibilities with integrity and without fear.
“I have therefore made my position clear: the unlawful activities of persons known as Omo Onile, or anyone who uses the name of land ownership or community authority to harass, intimidate or extort genuine landowners and developers, have no place in Ijesaland.
“Anyone who demands unlawful payments, threatens people, obstructs legitimate development or takes the law into their own hands must be reported to the appropriate authorities and dealt with according to the law. No custom, title, family claim or personal influence can be a licence for oppression. Our people should not confuse this directive with a denial of legitimate family, communal or customary rights,” Oba Hastrup said.
He said genuine interests must be heard and established through proper processes, noting that the palace would not tolerate self-help, coercion or extortion under any guise.
He called on traditional rulers, chiefs, families, landowners, developers, investors, community leaders and residents to cooperate with the committee to achieve its mandate.
“Bring forward facts and documents. Respect boundaries and lawful decisions. Do not inflame disputes through rumours, threats or self-help. Where a matter belongs before a statutory authority or court, allow it to be dealt with through the proper channel,” he said.
He also charged members of the committee to justify the confidence reposed in them through their conduct, adding that they should be guided at all times by the creed of his reign: “Equality, Fairness and Justice to All.”
“Let no person leave your process feeling that the truth was ignored because another person was more powerful. Let no community be denied peace because a dispute was allowed to fester. Let no title be bestowed without the character and integrity that ought to accompany it.”
Responding on behalf of the members, the committee chairman, Pa Adefalu, expressed their readiness to serve with integrity.