Members of Erunwon Traditional Council of Chiefs have raised alarm over what they described as an encroachment of their ancestral forest reserve(Olorunkole Forest) within Kajola in Obafemi -Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State by suspected land grabbers allegedly sponsored by Olu Of Obafemi, Oba Taofeek Owolabi, alongside Soji Akimbo, popularly known as "Baale Ijeun" and others
The Oluwo of Erunwon, Chief Adisa Obasanjo Soyoye leading other members of the council of Chiefs including
Chief Ayinla Ikumapayi, (Baase of Erunwon), Chief Olaseni Adeoye, (Ekerin of Erunwon) and Chief Yinka Sosinde, (Lukotun of Erunwon) at a press conference in Abeokuta on Sunday, raised the alarm, drawing the attention of the State Government to the earlier petition written to the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice dated 30th July, 2024 and acknowledged the same day, during which they called on government to quickly intervene and stop the encroachment of the forest reserve and harassment of innocent people at Kajola market, so as to prevent possible breakdown of law and order in the peaceful Erunwon community
The Traditional Council of Chiefs accused the monarch and others of encroaching on Olorunkole Forest Reserve where they illegally fell economic trees worth about N10 million
They reminded government in the petition, various steps taken by the council to stop the alleged illegal activities including the judgement of the Egba Complaints Committee which used Alternative Conflict Resolution mechanism to resolve the matter in favour of Erunwon Community, after the inspection team visited the disputed areas as directed by the Alake of Egbaland Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo as prescribed authority and paramount ruler of Egba kingdom
The Traditional Council also stated how the State High Court in Abeokuta under Justice Olarewaju Mabekoje in his judgement of 11th December, 2023, resolved the matter in favour of Erunwon Community, after dismissing the earlier verdict of Chief Magistrate Court, Owode Egba , which found members of the traditional council quilty of entering Orile Ijeun Forest at Kajola and destroying economic trees and secondly attacked Parakoyi members at Kajola market
"Traditionally , Kajola is the homestead of the Erunwon people of Egbaland and not in any way connected to Ijeun. So, the actions of the Olu of Obafemi are, to say the least, criminal. And no complaints or petitions that had been raised against him had been acted upon by the Police Command in Ogun State", the council expressed concern in the petition
The chiefs warned those still occupying the forest reserve illegally to vacant the reserve or face the legal consequences of their activities
They also called on government to act fast by addressing the issue through the office of the Attorney General by calling the monarch to order to avoid the likely escalation of the matter and possible loss of lives and property
"We beseech your office to take action to address this issue, instead of allowing it to escalate into violence, which would inevitably lead to the loss of lives and property. We can no longer bear this egregious abuse of power by this coronet Oba for ever . 190 years ago, our villages have co-existed peacefully, but since the appointment of this coronet monarch, goodwill and peace have vanished from our communities"
" We implore you to use your esteemed office to protect our villages from impending disaster", the chiefs pleaded with government
The Traditional Council of Chiefs also presented written petition acknowledged by the office of Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Oludaisi Elemide on 3rd July,2024, Alake of Egbaland on 7th September, 2022,Deputy Inspector General of Police and Director, State Security Service, Ogun State Command among
Dwellers in 32 villages including Olorunkole Forest and Kajola market according to the report by the inspection team of Egba Complaints Committee, affirmed that they are under the Erunwon Community
Erunwon community has produced prominent Nigerians among them are current Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for Economy,Chief Wale Edun, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola former High Commissioner and Otun Balogun of Erunwon, Erelu Fernandez, Erelu of Erunwon, Alhaji Chief Sulaimon Omidina, CEO, Slaab Oil and Gas and Jagunna of Erunwon, Late Chief Ernest Sonekan, Former interim Govt. and Abese of Erunwon, Late Chief Sesan Soluade, Former Deputy Governor of Ogun State and Balogun of Erunwon, Late Chief Nola Edun. Former UAC secretary and immediate past Oluwo of Erunwon and Late Oba Mofolorunso Oyebade Lipede, Immediate past Alake of Egbaland.
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