As concerned and legitimate sons and daughters of Osogbo, we are not unawares of subtle moves of the people of Ede, in recent time, to take over ownership of Abere from Osogbo, the genuine owners of the area.
The provocative move began some weeks ago when a number of correspondences of the state government of Osun left out Osogbo in the official letterheads.
Until the inauguration of Governor Ademola Adeleke, the state secretariat was and formally addressed as Abere, Osogbo. But today, it is Abere, without Osogbo.
When this mischief was first enlivened, we looked away, trusting that the new Government under the leadership of Senator Ademola Adeleke, would allow the sleeping dog lie despite the rumour that the emerging confrontation was part of his campaign messages and promises to his people in Ede.
However, the current video in circulation, of a purported Iyalode of Abere, Mrs Mujidat Olaniyi, where she was captured "transferring" ownership of the land where the state secretariat is situated to the people of Ede, has confirmed our fear. Our fear that the ploy to steal our ancestral land has the imprimatur of the state government.
Recall, the area now referred to as Abere was part of Oke-Osun Osogbo Farm Settlement and up to the late 1990s, the junction directly opposite the Osun State Secretariat was known as "Iyana Abere"-meaning a junction leading to Abere.
We insist: the land over which the Osun State Government Secretariat lies belongs to the people of Osogbo. The land was acquired from us by the government of the defunct Western Region, for the purpose of farming, after due compensation was paid.
The 2010 judgement of the Census Tribunal corroborates our claim. The Tribunal ordered then that the 2006 census result of the disputed area be added to Osogbo Local Government population figure. And as we speak, there is no available record to prove that Ede North Local Government appealed the judgement.
The implication of the foregoing is that if the place is part of Ede North Local Government, the Census Tribunal would not have given a judgement that the population of that area (the Osun State Secretariat up to Police Zone XI Headquarters and its environments) be counted as part of Osogbo Local Government population.
It's interesting to tell members of the public that the people of Osogbo are in possession of court judgements and administrative pronouncements, dated back to colonial period, to support our claims of the land.
For this reason, we would not fold our arms while what belongs to us is taken away. We will fight it, even if it costs us our blood.
The resolve of some people in the Government of Governor Adeleke to use instrument of authority to claim ownership of Abere for Ede, after several court judgements had pronounced otherwise, is a flagrant disregard to the rule of law and an attempt to cause communal crisis, the consequences of which may be to heavy to bear for all parties involved.
Signed:
Hon. Taofeek Latona
Chairman, Osogbo Solidarity Assembly
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