The Egba/Egbado Gbalefa Traditional Council of Baale, have cried out to the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, over the alleged invasion of their lands by the Olota of Ota, Prof Kabiru Adeyemi Obalanlege.
The representatives of 62 towns and villages of Gbalefa Peninsula in Ado-Odo / Ota Local Government Area of Ogun made the outcry in a press conference held on Wednesday in Abeokuta.
The Secretary of the council, Chief Olaniyi Mosaku, alleged that the monarch had installed Baales in areas with existing Baales and outside his jurisdiction.
Mosaku alleged that thugs and land grabbers backed by the monarch drove out indigenous people who had farms and forcibly seized their lands.
He said, ” We the representatives of the sixty-two (62) towns and villages of Gbalefa Peninsula in Ado-Odo / Ota Local Government, Ogun State are compelled to call the attention of the Ogun State Government and all peace-loving indigenes and residents of our Gateway State to the disturbing activities of the Olota of Ota, Professor Adeyemi Obalanlege, that are capable of disrupting public peace.
“In other to push his agenda, Olota started installing Baales in areas where there are existing Baales of Yewa and Egba extractions outside his jurisdiction of Ota. Examples abound in Iju, Mesan, Atan, Oke-Ore, Adekoyeni, Kajola Ibooro, Ajibawo, Ayidigun, Akinde, Orita, Ajambata, Ilewo-Alaga etc.
” Thugs and land grabbers were and are being used to drive away the Indigenous people,e who are largely farm owners, and their lands are forcefully taken from them.
“We are not unmindful that Olota Prof Kabir Adeyemi Obalanlege’s goal, through the imposition and installations of Baales outside his domain in our territories, is simply driven by his lust for land for personal benefits.
They bemoaned that all Egba/Egbado people in Ado Odo are not recognized, emphasizing that their communities have not developed either.
The Baale Council, headed by Chief Oyero Shokunbi, in company Chief Afolayan Samson, Chief Lateef Oloya, Chief Jimoh Shorunke, Chief Babatunde Tajudeen, and Chief Tiwalade Fatai amongst others revealed that a number of letters had been sent to the State Assembly and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy, Hassam Hamzat, but yet no response had been received.
However, stating that they are exhausted and attempting to avoid being “stupidly confrontational,” they requested Dapo Abiodun to listen to their grievances.
The Council of Baales also appealed to the state’s attorney general, pointing out that the majority of their cases had been pending for more than a decade.
Reacting, the Olota, Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege, explained that nothing like Gbalefa exists on the map of Ogun State.
Oba Obalanlege equally alleged that the complainants were being used by their traditional rulers to cause unrest and create a toxic environment for the peace-loving Ota-Awori people.
He said “There is nothing like Gbalefa in Ogun State or Ota. It is their backers that are causing the unrest and toxic environment for us in Ogun State and it is not acceptable. The government has made it clear several times that there is nothing like Gbalefa; it is not even on the map of Ogun State. The court has said there is nothing like Gbalefa.
“Where they are claiming is part of Otaland. They are our guests, they came to farm on our land and decided to live there. The land belongs to us. They are not Baales. Who appointed them? Can you go to another land and become traditional rulers over the indigenes in their land? It is not possible,” Olota said.