The Oyerinade Ruling House of Iware in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State has reached out to Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of the state, seeking intervention in an alleged land grabbing case.
The ruling house accused Rasheed Adeniyi Owoade Adetunji, who claims to be the Oniware of Iware, of selling 200 acres of land, which is said to belong to the Iware people, for ₦70 million ($181,500). According to the ruling house, Adetunji’s aim is to sell off the entire Iware community.
The appeal was made in a press statement signed by 11 members of the Oyerinade Ruling House, including Pa Akinade Adejare Ifekunle and Princes Babatunde Adegboye, Adeyemi Adedibu Olumide, Ajibade Oladimeji, Ajibade Olutayo, and Aderibigbe Olufemi. The ruling house claimed that Adetunji installed himself as the Oniware of Iware during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 when the community was under lockdown. They also mentioned ongoing legal cases related to the filling of the vacant Oniware stool.
The ruling house further accused Adetunji of creating non-existent Baale chieftaincy titles to assist him in selling Iware land. They stated that Adetunji recently installed several individuals as Baales without the approval of the Governor of Oyo State. The ruling house believes that Adetunji and his newly installed chiefs colluded to sell Iware land and share the profits. They warned the general public not to buy land from Adetunji and his chiefs, stating that anyone who does so does it at their own risk.
The ruling house called on Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State to save the Iware community from Adetunji and his Baales, who they claim are determined to sell the community’s common patrimony. They also mentioned that they have written letters to the governor, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, and the Chairman of Afijio Local Government in the past, presenting their case against Adetunji, but he continues to sell land despite ongoing legal cases.
