Osun: Esa-Oke community warns of unrest over land dispute

…urges government’s intervention

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

The Esa-Oke community in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State has called on Governor Ademola Adeleke to urgently intervene in a lingering land dispute to prevent an unprecedented crisis in the state.

The community warned that if the government fails to take necessary action, the situation could escalate beyond control.

The dispute stems from the state government’s approval of Prince Ajayi Oluwatimileyin Olufemi as the Olojudo of Ido Ajegunle, a decision that the Esa-Oke community has vehemently rejected. They argue that the prince has no ancestral ties to the families that own the disputed farmland or to the Esa-Oke community itself.

Speaking to journalists in Esa-Oke, the Chairman of the Esa-Oke Central Union, Otunba Bamigbeyi Yinusa Aremu, said the community has been patiently waiting for the governor to fulfill his promises, which include setting up a judicial panel of inquiry, compensating those affected by the crisis, and releasing those wrongly arrested.

“Unfortunately, for over two weeks now, the community has been waiting in vain, hoping that some of these promises will be kept.

“Some of the victims who were arrested have been taken to court, and through due process, they have been granted bail under certain conditions. Those receiving treatment in hospitals have also been cared for at the expense of the community,” Aremu said.

He added that the governor’s promises have served as a form of consolation for the people of Esa-Oke, preventing any revolt. However, he accused hoodlums led by Mr. Timileyin Olufemi Ajayi of the Ido Ajegunle settlement of continually harassing Esa-Oke farmers, making it unsafe for them to access their farmlands.

“Our farmers are being molested whenever they go to the farm, and some have even stopped going entirely due to fear. We are resolute about our ownership of the disputed land and will not tolerate further abuse of the process,” Aremu emphasized.

He reaffirmed the community’s determination to protect its ancestral land.

“We will lay claim to this land for generations to come. It is our heritage, our inheritance from our forefathers. Esa-Oke has never been conquered by any power or kingdom.

“We are direct descendants of Oduduwa and have every right to this land. Someone coming from another location to claim our territory is an act of provocation, and if the government fails to act, we are prepared to defend what is rightfully ours,” he declared.

Also speaking, the Owamiran of Esa-Oke, Oba Adeyemi Akanbi, alleged that solar-powered surveillance systems and CCTV cameras have been installed around the villages to monitor their activities, further escalating tensions in the community.