Traditional rulers across all Ilaje Kingdoms in Ondo State have declared that they would not allow any of their communities to be ceded to the proposed Ijebu State.
The monarch under the umbrella of Ilaje Council of Obas in Ondo State made the declaration at a recent meeting in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.
This was conveyed in a communique jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Ilaje Council of Obas, His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Olusegun Williams Akinyomi , the Amapetu of Mahin, and His Royal Majesty, Oba Olufemi Ogbaro, the Odoka of Obe-Ogbaro respectively.
The traditional rulers maintained that Ilajeland was never part of Ijebu even back in the days of colonial era.
They said: “Attempts to extend Ijebu or Ogun State authority to Irokun have been rejected by Irokun Obas and even Ijebu officials from British colonial times as attested to by the District Officer Ijebu-Ode in his letter N0.71/1920 of 9th July 1920, to his Ondo Division counterpart that “neither Irokun nor the village of Obi were in Ijebu country.”
They resolved that the council “was informed and took cognisance of agitations by different peoples and groups of Nigeria for creation of states with proposals to that effect submitted by members and published by concerned Committees of the National Assembly as reported in the media one of which is the proposed IJEBU STATE which published component parts strangely feature names of Ilaje communities.
“The Council resolved without prejudice to the interests of those who feel concerned, but for the avoidance of any doubt, that Ilaje people REJECT the inclusion of any part of Ilaje land in the proposed IJEBU STATE or any other state in the east and west of Ilaje land as hereinabove defined.
“Ilaje shall remain one and indivisible entity with no part thereof excised except by creation of more Local Governments or administrative units therefrom, within the same state, to which we may clearly and unambiguously subscribe, if need be, in the fullness of time.
“The Council affirmed our avowed commitment to the maintenance, defence and promotion of Ilaje unity, territory and culture as an integral part of the Federation of Nigeria and urge persons of Ilaje origin or descent to remain vigilant and shun all forms of inducement that may compromise our inherited territorial integrity.”
They implored the Ondo State and Federal Government to caution misguided government officials who are working contrary to the true constitutional positions on the boundary of Ilajeland with Ogun State to desist from the illegality they are perpetrating.
They emphasized the need for adequate security of life and property in the Ilaje boundary communities.
According to the communique, “The Council called on the Ondo State and Federal Government to ensure the security of our people and advise misguided officials including security agencies making false territorial claims for Ogun State to desist from creating unwarranted crises in the area.
“The Council noted the recent antics of some Ogun State officials in Irokun, particularly since the demise of Olurokun, Oba Olowoniyi Abejoye, whose daughter, Princess Adeyinka Abejoye-Ogunyemi, has since been appointed Regent and advised those fanning crises to check themselves and remember the age-long peaceful co-existence among our peoples.
“Council also received reports of some hired armed hoodlums, who invaded the Ilaje community of Eba burning properties and claiming to be working for the Ogun State Government, aided by some members of security agencies.
“Council noted that Eba, including Eba Island, which host one of the Ondo State Forest Reserves acquired by the colonial administration as part of Ilaje District, is not on the boundary with Ogun.
“Council also recalled that the Ondo State Government between 2014 and 2015, following reports by the people through Oba Molokun of Atijere initiated extensive investigation of reported mineral deposits on Eba Island including at Ago Alaja and the adjoining Ilaje communities.”
