Osun monarchs report colleague to Adeleke over land dispute
The Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode, has urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to intervene and halt the ongoing misrepresentation of kingship history and land ownership in the Ejigbo Local Government Area.
The monarch, who spoke on behalf of 19 other monarchs at a press conference held in Ejigbo on Thursday, alleged that the Olusongbe of Songbe, Oba Kamilu Ojelabi, made statements misrepresenting facts about boundaries in Ejigboland.
The Ogiyan urged Adeleke to summon Olusongbe and question him, adding that findings by the governor should be made public for future reference.
When asked what he would want the governor to do regarding the allegation, Oba Oyesosin said, “Ojelabi (Olusongbe) should be invited and questioned on this issue, and the results of whatever he has said should be published for the communities.”
Earlier, the Olosinmo of Osinmo, Oba Olayiwola Ogunniyi, who read a press statement signed by royal fathers in the Ejigbo Local Government Area, declared that the Ogiyan remains the prescribing authority on chieftaincy matters in Ejigboland.
He alleged that Olusongbe declared himself the presiding authority over the Ejigbo Local Government Area, adding that Oba Ojelabi unlawfully claimed ownership of multiple areas, including Idigba, Olorin, Ibogunde, Imoru, Omolosan, and Bada, among others.
He said Oba Ojelabi’s assertions, which were featured on a radio programme aired by the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, had aggravated tensions in the Ejigbo Local Government Area, urging residents of communities in the area to disregard Olusongbe’s claims.
Ogunniyi further stated, “We are reacting against the announcement made by Oba Kamilu Ojelabi (Olusongbe of Songbe) on the 10th of October 2024 programme hosted by Kunle Onilewura on OSBC Radio, in which he proclaimed himself as the presiding authority of the Ejigbo Local Government Area.
“That he owns the Ejigbo Local Government Land starting from Songbe, Idigba, Olorin, Ibogunde, Imoru, Omolosan, Bada, Edoro, and some other towns up to 40 towns and hamlets, including Ejigbo as a whole. We are now seizing this opportunity to inform the general public that they should disregard Oba Kamilu Ojelabi (Olusongbe of Songbe) as his claims are untrue information and misleading to the public.
“We want the public to disregard the information proclaimed by Oba Kamilu Ojelabi, the Olusongbe of Songbe, as mere hearsay without foundation. We hereby inform the public that Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode Oyesosin II (the Ogiyan of Ejigbo) is the rightful owner of Ejigbo land, and the Ogiyan of Ejigbo is the one who can enthrone and dethrone.”
When contacted for a reaction, Olusongbe stated that he never claimed prescribing authority over Ejigboland, explaining that he remains the paramount ruler over Songbeland.
“I mentioned Songbe territory, not Ejigbo land. It is true I was featured on a programme aired by OSBC. I counted my villages, and I have all the documents to back it up. If they have documents to support their claims, let them bring them. Someone is feeding those monarchs lies.
“People came to my villages to beg for farmland; a monarch was appointing them as village heads, asking them to side with him over land that is mine.
“If they are saying rubbish behind my back, they are just talking. They don’t have proof to back it up. I have documents. If they also want to talk, they should come with their documents. I have mine ready,” Olusongbe said.
