Osun's Owa Obokun, Oba Hastrup, Fights Land Grabbing in Ijesaland

The Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adesuyi Hastrup, delivered a strong caution to his traditional chiefs and security personnel on Saturday, urging them to refrain from supporting land grabbers across the six local government areas within Ijesaland. This directive came during the inauguration ceremony for the newly re-established Land Matters and Chieftaincy Affairs Committee, a body specifically tasked with resolving disputes concerning land and traditional leadership in the region. The monarch also reaffirmed his prior prohibition on all land-grabbing activities throughout Ijesaland.

Pa Ebenezer Adefalu heads the eight-person committee, with Professor Kola Kazeem serving as secretary. The other distinguished members include Oba Peter Adebamigbe, Reverend Abiodun Osungbohun, Mr. Isaac Orolugbagbe, Professor Olu Obi, Yemisi Ariyibi, and Chief Daramola Daisi. Furthermore, Honourable Justice Adedotun Onibokun has been appointed as an honorary consultant to the committee.

During the committee's inauguration at his palace in Ilesa, Osun State, Oba Hastrup acknowledged the involvement of some chiefs in land grabbing practices, stating his intention to address these individuals privately. He declared, “Some of the chiefs I inherited are involved and I am engaging them in private. I am also going to play a role. Any security agent that supports land grabbing, I will report him to higher authorities. Such an operative should be transferred out of Ijesaland.”

Oba Hastrup further disclosed that a separate committee, chaired by former Osun State Deputy Governor Erelu Olusola Obada, had meticulously screened the integrity of all nominees before their final selection. He subsequently urged the newly appointed members to carry out their responsibilities with unwavering integrity and courage.

The monarch emphasized his firm stance, stating, “I have therefore made my position clear: the unlawful activities of persons known as Omo Onile, or anyone who uses the name of land ownership or community authority to harass, intimidate or extort genuine landowners and developers, have no place in Ijesaland.” He continued, “Anyone who demands unlawful payments, threatens people, obstructs legitimate development or takes the law into their own hands must be reported to the appropriate authorities and dealt with according to the law. No custom, title, family claim or personal influence can be a licence for oppression. Our people should not confuse this directive with a denial of legitimate family, communal or customary rights.”

Oba Hastrup stressed that all legitimate claims must be heard and validated through due process, affirming that the palace would not condone self-help, intimidation, or extortion in any form. He appealed to all stakeholders, including traditional rulers, chiefs, families, landowners, developers, investors, community leaders, and residents, to collaborate with the committee to ensure it fulfills its mandate effectively. He urged, “Bring forward facts and documents. Respect boundaries and lawful decisions. Do not inflame disputes through rumours, threats or self-help. Where a matter belongs before a statutory authority or court, allow it to be dealt with through the proper channel.”

Additionally, he tasked the committee members to uphold the trust placed in them by their actions, emphasizing that they should consistently adhere to his reign's guiding principles: “Equality, Fairness and Justice to All.” He concluded by instructing, “Let no person leave your process feeling that the truth was ignored because another person was more powerful. Let no community be denied peace because a dispute was allowed to fester. Let no title be bestowed without the character and integrity that ought to accompany it.”

In his response on behalf of the committee, Chairman Pa Adefalu assured the monarch of their commitment to serving with utmost integrity. It is worth noting that The PUNCH had previously reported Oba Hastrup's inaugural address upon receiving his staff of office from Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke. In that speech, he pledged to support the creation of a vocational school in Ilesa to foster local production by training artisans. He also, at that time, declared a decisive stance against land grabbing within his territory and solicited collective support for the progress of Ijesaland.