Osun community exonerates ex-CDS of land grabbing

…demands Adeleke, IGP’s intervention

The Yakooyo Progressive Union, an umbrella body for all indigenes of the Yakooyo community in Osun State, has exonerated former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Alani Akinrinade, of any link to land grabbing.

The union stated this in a press statement co-signed by its President and General Secretary, Mr. Wale Oyebowale and Mr. Foluso Olanrewaju, respectively.

The statement, obtained in Osogbo on Saturday, was issued in response to allegations against Akinrinade by residents of Moro, a neighboring community to Yakooyo.

An online newspaper had reported that some residents of Moro accused Akinrinade of planning to forcefully take over a parcel of land belonging to a public secondary school in the town for a personal project.

However, the Yakooyo community dismissed the allegations, explaining that the project being misconstrued as Akinrinade’s personal project was actually conceived by the town to honor the ex-CDS in recognition of his contributions to the development of his hometown.

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“We want to inform the world that Gen. Alani Akinrinade is not involved in land grabbing, as being insinuated by the people of Moro. Neither has he deployed a single soldier, as alleged, for any reason whatsoever.

“It is to be noted, however, that the Yakooyo community has concluded plans to build an ultra-modern civic center to be named after its illustrious son, Gen. Alani Akinrinade, along Ipetumodu Road, Ojugboro area, Yakooyo,” the statement read in part.

Noting that the land on which the proposed project would be sited does not form part of Origbo Anglican Grammar School land, as alleged, the community subsequently urged the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, and the Department of State Services to intervene and protect the community from those attempting to displace its residents from their ancestral land.

The YPU statement further read: “Please also note that the piece of land on which we intend to build the civic center forms part of the land for which we were taken to court.

“The details of the government-approved survey plan for Yakooyo, including the said land, are hereby stated as NO. OS/0227/2011/12. The land does not form part of Origbo Anglican Grammar School land, as alleged.

“Consequently, we dispel and strongly condemn the notion of land grabbing, which has been nurtured by individuals or communities seeking undue global attention that could further plunge our dear Osun State into another communal crisis.

“We call on the Inspector General of Police, the AIG Zone 11 Zonal Command, the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, the Director of State Security Services, Osun State Command, the State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Osun State Boundary Commission to save the people of Yakooyo from long-standing invasions and the perpetual desire to annihilate our people from our ancestral land.”

The statement also called on Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to intervene and address the ongoing boundary disputes in the area to prevent another communal crisis in the state.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE