Family seeks govt intervention over alleged sales of land by monarch

From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure

Members of the Petelua family of Ilesa have appealed to the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke to intervene in the alleged sales of their family land by the Olowasere of Owasere in Atakumosa East Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba Oluwadare Ayoola.

Besides, the family called on the Owa Obokun of Ijesa land, Oba Clement Hastrup to investigate the allegation with a view to calling the monarch to order.

The Petelua family also said they have removed the head of the family, Chief Jimoh Awe, as the Petelua of Ilesa, alleging him of conniving with the Olowasere to take over their family inheritance.

The head of Petelua family, Mr Agboola Opesan in a statement alleged that Oba Oluwadare has sold part of their farmland and converted some to his own.

He alleged that members of the family who questioned Oba Oluwadare and Chief Awe were arrested and locked up in police custody.

Opesan also alleged that the royalty paid by tenants on the family land situated at Owasere has been hijacked by the Olowasere in support of Chief Awe.

He noted that despite a court judgement that the royalty should be paid to the family as the rightful owner of the land, the monarch continues  collecting the royalty and threatened those who questioned his decision.

Opesan urged the state government and Owa Obokun of Ijesha land, Oba Clement Hastrup to wade into the matter before it degenerates into crisis.

He said “The position of the head of the family and a king in a community is to hold the property of the family and protect the lives of their kinsmen and community members and certainly not convert same to personal use or self-enrichment.

“Chief Jimoh Awe and Oba Oluwadare Ayoola have  conspired together and assumed the position of the aggressors and land grabbers, interlopers and arch enemies of the family.

“This conspiracy and theft of our ancestral inheritance are despicable, grossly inhuman, morally corrupt and traditionally belittling of a traditional title holder in Ijesa land.

“We have resolved to bring to the notice of the state Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke and the Owa Obokun of Ijesa land, Oba Clement Hastrup, that Chief Awe has been removed as the Petelua of Ilesa, and we also want Oba Ayoola to be removed as the Owasere. We are for peace and we want the concerned authorities to wade in on the matter urgently,” he added.

Efforts to get the reaction of the monarch was unsuccessful as his phone was switched off when his line was called.

However, Chief Awe, when contacted said the allegations were not true.

“All the allegations are not true. They are trying to spoil my name,” he said.