Palpable tension is brewing between the Ode-Aye community of Okitipupa Local Government area of Ondo State and the Odigbo community in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, over alleged encroachment into the land of Aye in Agbabu community.
The traditional ruler of Ode Aye, Halu of Aye Kingdom, Oba William Akinmusayo Akinlade, who raised the alarm said tension is heightened on daily basis, as the people of Odigbo have been threatening to dethrone the Agbabu traditional head, Oloja Michael Akinbuwa Adegbemiro, who is a direct son of the community, which is under Ode Aye kingdom.
Speaking, Oba Akinlade said, “We owned the Agbabu community, and we have been installing Oloja in the area for many years, about 22 Baales’ have been installed at Agbabu community by Aye kingdom before my installation as the Royal Majesty of Aye.
“But seeing the people of Odigbo coming out to forcefully claim the area with a threat to the lives of our people in the community remains a surprise to the people and residents of the community.
“The Oloja could not sleep with his two eyes closed to avoid being assassinated by those who were planning to overthrow him. They are planning to install another Oloja from their local government which is an act of misuse of power.
“Here in Ode Aye, we don’t want a crisis, the reason we are calling and appealing to the Ondo state government to come to our aid, to avert a looming crisis in the land because we will never accept or allow them to take over our heritage,” Akinlade said.
According to the Aye monarch, who said information at his disposal indicated that the Odigbo people had concluded an arrangement to install another Oloja, during the celebration of the Ogun Festival in Ode Aye Kingdom, saying this is targeted to disrupt the festival scheduled to take place on Friday, and Saturday.
He said, “Odigbo did not have land in Agbabu, they could not leave Ore, and come to claim Agbabu from us. So embarrassing and we don’t want killings or the shedding of blood this is why we are appealing to the state government. We do not want them to destroy our heritage. ”
Oba Akinlade also disclosed that the Odigbo had encroached on other neighbouring towns which include Igbobini in Ese Odo, saying that the case was already in court awaiting judgment.
Oba Akinlade who appreciated Governor Rotimi Akeredolu over the recent creation of additional 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), in the state appealed to the state government to consider Ode Aye as the headquarters of the LCDA.
The Oloja of Agbabu, Oloja Michael Adegbemiro, while speaking, called on the state government to intervene on the issue before turning to communal crisis as the development had been creating undue tension in his community.
Adegbemiro said “Aye’ owns the land of Agbabu and I am a direct son of Aye Kingdom, I was installed as the Oloja by the Halu of Aye Kingdom on March 29, 2019, but since then Odigbo people have been harassing me and my people with policemen.
“The threat is much to the extent that I can’t sleep with my two eyes closed. There was a time I almost deserted the community to avoid being killed or assassinated.
“A few months ago, the information reached me that they were coming to the community. Once I heard, I would run to the Kabiyesi here in Aye Kingdom. Also, I call the Area Commander at Ore and the DPO to ensure peace in his domain.
“Agbabu belongs to the Land of my father. Am appealing to the state government under the leadership of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to intervene in the matter so I can have the rest of mind.”
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