The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has inaugurated a five-member committee to address issues of land grabbing and related offenses in the city.
The committee, which will approach the problem from a legal perspective, includes Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Barrister Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), Yinka Okunade, Rahman Abiodun AbdulRaheem, and Tunji Thomas.
According to a statement by the monarch’s media aide, Chief Adeola Oloko, Oba Ladoja authorised the committee to co-opt experts from other fields – including town planning, surveying, security, and the legal sector – to support their work in combating land grabbing.
Barrister Musibau Adetunbi, one of the members, was in court during the inauguration, which took place in the presence of the Olubadan-in-Council.
Oba Ladoja said both the Oyo State Government and the Olubadan-in-Council shared the same commitment to rid Ibadan of the land-grabbing menace.
According to him, ‘land grabbing is like an interlocking web of complex connections involving diverse interests that need to be unravelled. I know each of you very well. While we entertain no illusion as to the gravity of your responsibility, I have no doubt in my mind that you have the capacity to carry out the responsibility.’
The monarch directed the committee to begin work immediately and submit its recommendations within 21 days. He clarified that the legal advisory committee would work alongside the existing land matters committee led by Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori.
Supporting the Olubadan’s position, the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, said it was time for decisive action against land grabbing, which had repeatedly endangered residents.
He said, ‘If it were possible, we should seek the establishment of anti-land grabbing tribunals in all eleven local government councils in Ibadanland.’
Speaking on behalf of the committee, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) thanked the Olubadan and the Olubadan-in-Council for the opportunity to serve. He described the appointment as a call to duty and appealed for cooperation from the Oyo State Government and Ibadan residents in tackling land grabbing.
He added that the committee’s work would align with the state government’s position, as the administration also opposes land grabbing.
The meeting, presided over by Oba Rashidi Ladoja, was attended by several members of the Olubadan-in-Council, including the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola; Otun Balogun, Oba Kola Adegbola; Otun Olubadan-Designate, Oba Eddy Oyewole; Osi Balogun, Oba Olubunmi Isioye-Dada; Osi Olubadan-Designate, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi; Asipa Olubadan-Designate, Oba Hamidu Ajibade; Ekerin Balogun, Oba Akeem Adewoyin; and Ekerin Olubadan-Designate, Oba Adebayo Akande.
Also present were the Bobajiro of Ibadanland and former Oyo State Head of Service, Chief Tajudeen Aremu, as well as the Ajiroba, Professor Soji Adejumo.