The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, yesterday raised the alarm of a likely clash between Oyo and Osun states over unresolved boundary matters.
He alleged that there was a plan to cede Osun State land at Iwo axis to Lagelu community in Oyo State, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to set up an independent committee of enquiry to avert the looming communal clash.
Oba Akanbi in a statement through his spokesperson, Alli Ibraheem, said: “There are indicators of a compromise to cede part of Osun State in Iwo axis to Lagelu in Oyo State, a situation that may trigger another civil unrest in the affected villages.”
He said urgent steps became necessary to avert crisis between the two states, adding: “There is a clandestine plan to steal the ancestral birth rights of the people of Iwo land.”
The monarch said: “As a responsible father to the sons and daughters of Iwo land, I will find it extremely difficult to console the victims of cheating.
“Last April, three people were killed by land grabbers from Offa and Lagelu. The families of the victims and residents of the affected villages in Iwo land intend to carry out a reprisal. When they came to me, I restrained them, I cautioned them to be civil by approaching a competent court of law. I assured them of an objective report from the National Boundary Commission. They listened to my advice.
“The indicators show that all historical documents and evidence received from Osun State have been misplaced. If documents are missing, the committee has a right to call for other copies from us. The people of Iwo are the landlords of the affected villages. They have their schools, hospitals and other public facilities and voting units bearing Osun State. It will be a national treason to force them to another state.”
Oba Akanbi appealed to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and security operatives to act fast, to prevent communal clashes.
