Form Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Scores of residents of Sobaloju Compound between Oja’ba and Idi-Arere in Ibadan South East Local Government Area of Oyo State, took to the streets at the weekend in protest against the planned sale or lease of their ancestral family compound to a finance house.
The female protesters, vowed to carry out a naked protest in order to resist the plan, saying it would render them homeless and sever their ties to their indigeneship of Ibadan, if their family compound is sold without the consent of the bona-fide sons and daughters of Sobaloju Compound by purported by some people.
The protesters, who hold the popular Sobaloju Compound, opposite the palace of Oba Abass Aleshinloye in Isale Ijebu area in high regard as their ancestral roots. They expressed concerns that any attempt to sell the property would not only rob them of their Ibadan indigeneship, but also erase their lineage and history.
They carried placards with inscriptions like “This house is not for sale,” “Nobody should attempt to drive us into the rain or sun,” “Be warned – Sobaloju Descendants.”
One of the protester said: “If our sons and daughters ask about our family house in the future, where do we show them? The graves of our ancestors are here. Now, some people who have no direct connection with the family are planning to sell off our compound. What will happen to their resting places?”
At a press conference, Secretary of Sobaloju Descendants, Basiru Adelabu, said the family, has no intention of selling the property.
He warned potential buyers to reconsider their plans.
He alleged that Mr. Lateef Adesina and Ambassador Rashidi Oladipo were behind the purported plan to sell or lease out the property.
However, in a telephone conversation with journalists, Adesina, faulted the allegation, saying it was nothing but blackmail. Ambassador Oladipo also told journalists to disregard the allegation as it was untrue.
“Whoever is peddling that rumour is trying to incur the wrath of God. How can they allege me of planning to sell the family compound? The allegation is nothing but sheer rubbish.”
These same set of people have leased part of the land for the building of shops on 35 years agreement without seeking the consent of other stakeholders, including Ambassador Oladipo, Justice Nurudeen Adekola, Engr. Akintoye and other prominent elders in the family,”Adesina said.