The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja,has inaugurated a 5-member committee of legal practitioners charged with the task of using the law to tackle land grabbing in Ibadan.
Inaugurating the committee on Tuesday, the monarch said hard times await land grabbers who are giving Ibadan a bad reputation.
In a statement on Wednesday by Olubadan’s media aide, Adeola Oloko stated that the committee comprises Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Barrister Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), Yinka Okunade, Rahman Abiodun AbdulRaheem and Tunji Thomas.
The monarch implored the committee to co-opt anybody from any profession, including town planning, survey, security agencies,the bar and bench who could assist in giving them sufficient greenlight to fight the scourge.
He stated that both the Oyo state government the Olubadan-In-Council were on the same page in ridding Ibadan of the menace of land grabbing.
He added:”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”
He told the Committee to hit the ground running, giving them twenty one days within which to make their recommendations. The Olubadan, however, clarified that the inauguration of the legal advisory committee was meant to strengthen the existing committee on land matters headed by Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori.
The Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola corroborated Olubadan’s position, saying it had become necessary for Ibadan to take stringent action against the menace of land grabbing.
Chief Niyi Akintola SAN, who spoke in behalf of the committee members,
expressed their gratitude to Olubadan and Olubadan-in-council for giving them the privilege to serve their fatherland.
He said their inauguration is a call to service of their fatherland, the committee sought the co-operation and support of the Oyo State Government and Ibadan people in checkmating the menace of land grabbing.
He noted that the Oyo state government was not favourably disposed to land grabbing either,and as such, the anti-land grabbing advisory committee would strengthen the government’s resolve to tackle the same menace.
