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By Oluseye Ojo
The Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Lawal, is the Chairman of the Boundary Committee in the state. He once served as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state.
In this interview, he takes a look at the boundary issues across Nigeria, and comes with a practical solution which can resolve the crisis that has claimed scores of lives and unquantifiable property.
According to him, the National Boundary Commission (NBC), which is an arbiter between states on boundary, must come out clearly and give the country maps of states, with boundary lines that will be respected by stakeholders.
What are the most pressing boundary disputes in Oyo State, especially with neighbouring states?
First of all, boundary dispute is an international, national, and regional phenomenon. So, whatever issues we have with neighbouring states have touching effect on international boundary disputes.
For instance, talking about international boundary disputes, Nigeria shares boundary with neighbouring countries like Republic of Benin, Chad, and Niger.
But as it concerns us in Oyo State, we have boundary disputes between Republic of Benin along Parakou axis, bordering Iwajowa, Kajola, and Saki West Local Government Areas in Oyo State.
With regard to supra-boundary dispute between Oyo State and neighbouring states, we have issues with Osun, Kwara, and Ogun States.
If I break it down, Oyo State in particular has dispute with Osun State, which is ongoing, and it is in fact subjected to a resolution by the National Boundary Commission in Papa, Ogburo, and Odo Oba in Osun State. We have other areas along the boundary line between Oyo and Osun, but the most prominent which is before the National Boundary Commission is between Lagelu Local Government in Oyo State and Iwo Local Government in Osun State.
And because of the precipitation of a crisis along that corridor, the two states have had to really intervene very decisively, calling for series of meetings between my humble self as a chairman Boundary Committee in Oyo State and my counterpart in Osun State.
We had meetings here in Ibadan about two to three months ago. We visited the disputed locations in Papa, Ogburo and adjoining villages around that corridor.
In fact, we went as far as to Odo-Oba, which is the claim of Oyo State as the boundary between Iwo Local Government in Osun State and Lagelu Local Government in Oyo State.
Now, this boundary issue has been known for quite some time now. It dated back to 1991 when Osun was carved out from old Oyo State.
The problem really has been that the National Boundary Commission has not really defined in concrete terms the boundary between Oyo State as it is today and Osun State that has been carved out from Oyo State.
So, there has been a rival claim between the two local governments and between the two states – Oyo and Osun.
The truth of the matter is that from a historical and administrative perspective, the boundary between Ibadan for instance, and Iwo is Odo-Oba.
So, when in 1991 Osun State was carved out, the boundary between Oyo State and Osun State in our own view is Odo-Oba.
We have historical and administrative evidence to buttress it, to the extent that even when jointly we visited Odo-Oba, we saw historical relics, carving out Odo-Oba as the boundary and conceding the boundary demarcation between Oyo and Osun State at Odo-Oba.
This is where Osun State is disputing with Oyo State Government.
We have submitted pieces of evidence before the National Boundary Commission. Also, Osun State had already submitted their claims before the National Boundary Commission.
The truth of the matter is even as we claim Odo-Oba to be the boundary, as a result of this expansionist tendency from Osun State end, they have encroached inward to Ogburo, which historically is part and parcel of Lagelu Local Government, for which all administrative civic duties have been discharged to Oyo State. They have even moved to Papa, which is further inward into Oyo State territory.
And we felt that the National Boundary Commission should quickly intervene in this regard. When last we met, I think in June, I told the Director General of the National Boundary Commission that further delay would not do justice to the case.
So, they must intervene as quickly as possible to really give us what they consider to be the boundary between Oyo and Osun State.
So, as we speak, we are waiting for an invitation by the National Boundary Commission so that the two states can go and canvas their claims before the National Boundary Commission. And then the National Boundary Commission would have to decide what in their own opinion should be the boundary between Oyo and Osun State.
The moment, that is done, communities around the disputed areas like Ogburo, Papa, Odo-Oba will be at rest. Right now, as a result of rival claims, attacks are coming from both sides, to the extent that about three or four months ago, arrests were made, people were attacked, houses were burnt, especially at Ogburo. And because of a peaceful approach of the two governors, those that have been arrested, either from Oyo State end or Osun State end, we have had to resolve and say, okay, the police should allow us to really move in and settle this matter amicably.
So, those that have been arrested and detained in Oyo State through court process have been released, as we speak
And I believe that indigenes of Oyo State that have been arrested by Osun State Police Command were also released.
So, the matter is before the National Boundary Commission for adjudication and then pronouncement.
Also, we have boundary disputes between Oyo and Kwara State, particularly between Irepo Local Government in Oyo State and Kayama Local Government in Kwara State.
Again, historically, the boundary that is known from days of ordinances has been really established and in favour of Irepo Local Government, i.e. in favour of Oyo State Government.
But of recent, some surveyors came about seven eight years now,, surveyed, and put pillars in and around Kishi in Oyo State, claiming such areas belong to Kwara State.
We are strongly disputing it. And again, as it has happened between Oyo and Osun, the National Boundary Commission would have to do a lot in resolving boundary disputes
Once they are able to do that, we won’t have agitations from states. And between Oyo State and Kwara State, I understand that work has really advanced in terms of boundary line demarcation. We are waiting also to receive reports in that regard.
Oyo State is also having boundary disputes with Ogun State. This is coming because Oyo State historically remains the regional capital of Western Region. So, you take your compass and begin to draw, define boundary of other states that have been created since the days of even pre-colonial days to post-independence when states started to be created.
So it’s a matter of reality that Oyo State must contend with such claims. In 1976, when Ogun State was carved out, the same problem that we have to be agitating with in Osun or Kwara State is the same problem because there has not been a well-defined boundary between the two states. In 1996, because of this non-definition or delineation of boundary between Oyo and Ogun States, it was subjected to judicial consideration and the court has defined the boundary for us.
So, most of the disputed areas currently by Ogun State have been awarded to Oyo State Government as we have it today.
So that’s the situation in which we are, with regard to boundary with neighbouring states.
How have you been engaging with stakeholders, including traditional rulers, community members, and neighbouring states to resolve the boundary disputes?
Let me tell you as a lawyer that talking of a boundary issue and getting traditional leaders or obas or chiefs or Baales (village heads) involved, they are very sensitive to issue of boundary because the moment you are defining boundaries for traditional rulers or obas, you are invariably defining their domain. So that’s why they are very sensitive to issue of a boundary because when you limit their domain by way of a delineation or definition of boundary, they will kick. They won’t accept so easily.
So, in Ogburo, currently we have two Baales in there. Iwo Local Government is putting a Baale in Ogburo. Lagelu Local Government is equally putting a Baale in Ogburo
That’s to tell you the sensitivity of boundary definition vis-a-vis the domains of obas. So we have two Ologburos in there.
So, what we do as an administration is to calm our traditional rulers to cooperate with the two state governments that are disputing on boundary and urged them to really cooperate so that the National Boundary Commission, once it comes out with its verdict, whichever state feels dissatisfied can take appropriate step.
But for us, we must encourage them to keep the peace and watch the two state government to ventilate before the National Boundary Commission and if need be escalate to appropriate quarters if they feel dissatisfied with the judgement of the National Boundary Commission.
Now you mentioned other stakeholders. Well, I can tell you on the day we appeared before the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 11, Osogbo, that was about two months ago; the two states went along with their stakeholders.
From Ibadan end here, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), which is the umbrella of all clubs, and associations in Ibadan went along because they are strong stakeholders in this regard.
We have had occasion that even some of the Magajis came along and they spoke to the issues of boundary between Lagelu Local Government and Iwo Local Government. That’s to tell you the extent of involvement of stakeholders in boundary disputes between Lagelu Local Government in Oyo State, and Iwo Local Government in Osun State.
Equally and likewise, the Iwo Local Government came with the retinue of stakeholders, who spoke to the issues of boundary between Iwo Local Government in Osun and Lagelu Local Government in Oyo State.
The interest that has been shown by stakeholders is more than personal interest. They want to get involved.
Somebody came and said, look I have contested in this particular area and I know the number of polling units. I know those who supervised the election and how I moved around and the polling unit that constitute my constituency in Ogburo, and votes in there were counted for Oyo State.
So, such a person will not sit by and then allow his constituency to be given to another community. So also Kabiyesis, and Baales, more than personal interest and emotional attachment.
So, and then Olubadan sent representation and Oluwo also sent representation. So that’s to tell you that the stakeholders have deeper interest in the issue.
What are the major challenges facing the boundary resolution committee in resolving disputes?
Well let me tell you that first and foremost, lack of cooperation between the disputants and the National Boundary Commission. Disputants on the one hand and National Boundary Commission on the other hand.
And I have mentioned this one when we appeared before the National Boundary Commission and I told them that if for instance you have issues before the commission that is lasting more than 20 years and they have not made pronouncement, it shows clearly that they are not addressing the issue expeditiously as they should. That’s one major problem because otherwise if they have made pronouncement in the last 20 to 25 years, whether Osun is satisfied or not. If it is not, the other step to take is there. If Oyo State is not, the other step to take is there.
But we cannot take step unless there is a pronouncement by the National Boundary Commission. So that’s a major challenge that we have.
Well the others are limited to respective states; but as it were those issues that we have are easily surmountable at the state level. But the major challenge that we have is non-resolution of disputes subjected to the National Boundary Commission timelessly.
Can you share any success story or notable achievements of this boundary committee in resolving boundary disputes in Oyo State?
There are national boundary issues with neighbouring countries, especially around Parakou in Benin Republic which has a boundary lineage with four of our local governments in Oyo State.
About a month ago, my staff here had to go to Parakou in Republic of Benin to see some of the challenges that we have.
We call them border settlement issues to really make the two indigenes of the two countries live together in peace. And that meeting was held at Parakou.
In attendance, National Boundary Commission officials, Oyo State boundary committee officials, and the counterparts in Republic of Benin. That’s as far as international boundary disputes are concerned.
But for such intervention, what you have locally, sub-national issues, would have been what the international communities would be engaging in.
So, coming to sub-national issues; boundary disputes between Oyo State, for instance, and other states that I’ve mentioned earlier on, would have escalated far beyond what we have at the moment but for the cooperation and quick intervention of state governors, and state government in disputed areas. So to that extent, it’s a great achievement.
It is even a great achievement that we’ve had occasion to subject our disputes before an arbitrator, which is the National Boundary Commission. It has not been a free-for-all war in disputed areas. And as we move on, we’re trying to appeal to our residents in disputed boundary areas to keep the peace. That’s the only way to go.
So, this committee here in Oyo State, and in other states that we have issues with, we are doing the best we can to maintain peace, and also drawing attention of the National Boundary Commission, because they are the only one that can intervene between states.
And because we must have an arbiter that the two states can respect. You can’t pull individuals from Oyo State and ask Osun indigenes to appear before them and vice versa. So National Boundary Commission is the arbiter in respect of boundary disputes between states.
And we have escalated our disputes before them. So that has been a great achievement.
What strategies would you suggest for amicable resolution of boundary disputes in Nigeria?
Number one, there must be a map, showing boundaries of states. As of today, yes, they are drawing maps and showing states. But if it has been a boundary line that states are respecting, we would not be having boundary disputes.
So, National Boundary Commission must come out clearly and give us maps of states in Nigeria, especially in disputed areas. With that, there won’t be much of a crisis in regard to boundary between states.
With sub-nationals, it’s the same thing. In Oyo State, for instance, there’s virtually no local government that has not agitated boundary issue with another local government. I’ve just directed that the Surveyor-General should come out with an acceptable map of local governments in Oyo State. It is the same thing that we would expect the Federal Government, through the National Boundary Commission, and Surveyor-General of the Federation, to come up with clear boundary between states, so that we won’t have much problem.
