Unless urgent steps are taken to prevent it, there might be another communal clash in Osun State over the boundary crisis in the state.
This is coming at a time when Ifon-Orolu and Ilobu communities in the state are yet to fully recover from the bloody violence that erupted owing to dispute over land boundary.
Currently, fresh war is looming between Iragbiji and Osogbo towns as the traditional rulers of the two towns are at loggerhead over ownership of land which borders them.
The silent battle was brought to the fore recently by the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrasheed Olabomi who accused his counterpart in Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, the Ataoja of Osogbo of expansionist tendencies.
He said the plot was capable of causing communal clashes between the two neighbouring towns of Osogbo and Iragbiji if nothing concrete was done by the state government and other relevant stakeholders.
Oba Olabomi alleged that the Ataoja was laying claim to the land between Omu River and Iragbiji which was said to belong to the Iragbiji community on the left on Osogbo/Ibokun road.
He emphasized that the boundary between Iragbiji and Osogbo had been settled since 1905.
According to him, “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 Iragbijiland.
“Osogbo community even took the matter to the State Boundary Commission, which eventually concurred with the earlier established Omu River Boundary. The Boundary Commission communicated to Aragbiji and Ataoja of their findings. Since then, peace has returned to the area for a few days when the Ataoja started a fresh threat to the existing peace.”
The monarch expressed reservation about the action of Oba Oyetunji over what he called subtle instigation of people against Iragbiji through radio announcement instead of approaching the law court.
He said, “I feel strongly that the Ataoja of Osogbo Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun rather than subtle mitigation of the people against Iragbiji through radio announcement should approach the law courts if he has any iota of claim.
“The boundary between Osogbo and Iragbiji 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 of Osogbo who is on an expansionist mission.
“Iragbiji people are peace-loving and have been responding to the Ataoja of Osogbo’s constant unprovoked attacks with calm disposition. However, I hope the Ataoja of Osogbo will not push our patience beyond limits,” he warned.
The monarch called on President Bola Tinubu, Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Inspector General of Police to caution the Ataoja of Osogbo on the alleged expansionist mission.
“I like to call on the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, the Executive Governor of Osun State, the Inspector General of Police, Department of State Security Services and all Nigerians to call Oba Jimoh Oyetunji to put a stop to his unabated expansionist tendencies, lest he cause needless communal clash which is not good for our state,” he stated.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Ataoja did not yield positive results.
