Ijesaland Committee Moves to Curb Land Grabbing and Chieftaincy Disputes Through Alternative Dispute Resolution
The reconstituted Committee on Land Matters and Chieftaincy Affairs, established by the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adesuyi Hastrup, has urged aggrieved residents across the six local government areas of Ijesaland to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in settling disputes relating to land ownership and chieftaincy matters.
The call was made by Prof. Kolawole Kazeem, secretary of the eight-member committee led by Pa Ebenezer Adefalu, during the panel’s maiden sitting in Ilesa, Osun State, on Thursday. Kazeem spoke on behalf of the chairman at the session, which was attended by other committee members, including Oba Peter Adebamigbe, Rev. Abiodun Osungbohun, Prof. Olu Obi, Yemisi Ariyibi and Chief Daramola Daisi.
Committee to Partner with Osun State Boundary Commission
According to Kazeem, the panel will also collaborate with the Osun State Boundary Commission to address complaints from communities in Ijesaland situated along boundaries with other states. He explained that the committee’s mandate extends beyond resolving disputes to fostering peaceful coexistence among residents.
“We want people to embrace this Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism. We will ensure that cases on land and chieftaincy already in court from all six local government areas in Ijesaland are sorted out peacefully,” he said.
Kazeem emphasised the importance of amicable settlement, noting that disputes should not be allowed to escalate. He revealed that more than 70 per cent of chieftaincy dispute cases in Osogbo originate from Ijesaland, underscoring the need for the committee’s intervention.
“We should settle things amicably among ourselves without escalating them or making them serious matters. If you go to Osogbo, more than 70 per cent of cases on chieftaincy disputes come from Ijesaland. So this committee has the mandate to make sure that we reduce cases of chieftaincy disputes. We are not the final authority. We are playing an advisory role, and we are going to do our best,” he stated.
Boundary Disputes and Land Grabbing Under Scrutiny
The committee secretary outlined the panel’s readiness to work with the Osun State Government through the Boundary Commission in resolving complaints from communities along the boundaries with other states. The affected local government areas include Obokun, Oriade, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Atakumosa East and Atakumosa West.
Kazeem disclosed that the panel would present petitions received from such towns and villages to the commission and liaise with the agency to ensure swift resolution. He noted that the committee’s responsibilities cover not only cases of unlawful activities by persons known as “Omo Onile” but also challenges of land grabbing and trespass by towns and villages sharing borders with Ijesaland.
“The committee is to look not only into several cases of unlawful activities by persons known as ‘Omo Onile’, but also into the challenges of land grabbing and trespass by towns and villages sharing borders with Ijesaland. Now that we have that responsibility, it is part of our duty,” he said.
He further explained that the panel would collaborate with any relevant authority to fulfil its mandate, describing the Boundary Commission as a vital partner. “We want to present the case on behalf of Ijesaland. That is what the Owa told us, and all the other monarchs in towns and cities in Ijesaland are involved in it. We have representatives from all local governments in this committee, so that we will have synergy in whatever we want to do,” Kazeem added.
Petitions and Regular Sittings
The committee has assured that it possesses documentation relating to the towns and villages involved in boundary disputes. Kazeem stated that once petitions reach the panel, they would be taken up with the Boundary Commission and discussions shared with the agency.
“We have all the papers of those towns and villages. The moment they get to our table, we take them up with the Boundary Commission and share the discussion with them. They have the information. If we have to liaise with Ondo or Ekiti, we will do that. What we are looking at, and what we are looking for, is ensuring that there should be no wars over land and chieftaincy matters in Ijesaland,” he added.
He called on individuals with complaints to approach the committee with their petitions, submitting 12 copies to the panel’s secretariat. The committee will hold sittings four times a month.
The Owa Obokun of Ijesaland had earlier inaugurated the reconstituted Land Matters and Chieftaincy Affairs Committee, tasking it with addressing complaints on land and chieftaincy matters in Ijesaland. He also reiterated his earlier ban on the activities of land grabbers in his domain.
At the inauguration held at his palace in Ilesa, Oba Hastrup warned those aiding land grabbers across the six local government areas in Ijesaland to desist or face dire consequences. He assured the committee of his full support to enable it to deliver on its mandate.
