A chieftain of the New Nigerian People Party (NNPP) in Ogun State, Hon. Samuel Sogbeinde, has called on Governor Dapo Abiodun to quickly intervene in the lingering land dispute in seven communities in the Obafemi-Owode local government area of the state to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the affected communities.
He also appealed to the residents and landlords of the seven communities to be cautious about every action that could cause communal crises in their localities.
With an emphasis on the crisis currently pitting the Ogun monarch and Olu of Obafemi, Oba Taofeeek Owolabi, against the affected communities over a disputed 500 hectares of land, Sogbeinde warned the stakeholders of the affected communities to desist from actions that could turn their localities into a theatre of war.
The politician’s appeal came after residents and leaders of the affected Ogun communities of Agboro, Latunde, Olorode, Agbelu, Odedola, Akero, and Sagalu communities in Obafemi-Owode local government area of the state had accused Oba Owolabi of forcibly taking over 500 hectares of their land.
Fielding questions from journalists yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, Sogbeinde noted that the situation could snowball into a full communal war, Sogbeinde urged the affected communities to explore legal means as stated in the Nigerian Constitution on how to channel their grievances over the disputed landed matter.
He specifically advised that the communities should approach a court of competent jurisdiction to seek redress over the matter should an amicable means of resolutions through the intervention of notable stakeholders in the state fail.
“As we all know how important landed property is to humanity as heritage inherited from the forebearers or legacy to be left behind for the incoming generations, especially in Yoruba land.
“As a concerned stakeholder in the affected local government area, I can only appeal to the affected communities to toe the path of peace and avoid any steps capable of causing a crisis in the area,” the politician added.
