Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba (Dr) Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin (Ige Olakulehin 1), has clarified the boundary between Ibadan and Iwo Town, Osun State, warning land grabbers to stay away from the area.
The foremost Ibadan traditional ruler declared in a press release from the Olubadan Palace, on Saturday, that Oba River is the boundary between the city of Ibadan and Iwo Town.
Oba Olakulehin said the boundary between Ibadan in Oyo State and Iwo in Osun State had been Oba River from time immemorial.
The Olubadan made the clarification at an emergency meeting of obas, mogajis and baales in the boundary areas of Ibadan and Iwo, held at the Committee Room of the Olubadan Palace, Oke Aremo, Ibadan, on Friday.
Speaking through the Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade Salaudeen, the Olubadan warned land expansionists and land grabbers to leave, without and delay, any part of Ibadaland forcefully acquired.
“I seriously warn land expansionists, land grabbers and other trespassers to leave forcefully acquired Ibadan land without further delay in their own interests.
“The established fact that Ibadan people are lovers of peaceful co -existence and therefore accommodating should not be taken for granted or misinterpreted as cowardice. Yíyọ́ ẹkùn bi t’ojo kọ́, he asserted.
Olubadan urged the obas, mogajis and baales in the affected areas to protect their territorial integrity and ensure the ownership of land belonging to Ibadan is not compromised.
Oba Olakulehin stated categorically that trespassers should be prepared to face the music.
He enjoined traditional title holders in the boundary areas between Ibadan and Iwo to give him their support as well as the Oyo State government to ensure that the land forcefully and fraudulently taken over are reclaimed.
Present at the meeting were the Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief (Senator) Sarafadeen Abiodun Ali, obas, mogajis and baales among others.