The Ogun State Government has issued an appeal to its Ondo State counterpart, urging them to address the issue of Ondo citizens encroaching on Ogun territory and launching attacks on residents in communities along the shared border of the two states. The plea was made by Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, who also serves as the Chairman of the Ogun State Boundary Committee.
In a statement released in Abeokuta, the state capital, Deputy Governor Salako-Oyedele expressed concern about the encroachment of Ondo citizens into Ogun communities, which has led to assaults on Ogun residents, particularly those in the Irokun kingdom located in the Ogun-Waterside Local Government Area. She strongly condemned the purported imposition of Princess Adeyinka Abejoye Ogunyemi as a regent in the town, describing it as illegal and an act of impersonation.
Salako-Oyedele emphasized the significance of Irokun in Ogun State, with its own traditional ruler, the Onirokun of Irokun, who is a member of the Ijebu Traditional Council. She noted that the current Onirokun, HRH Oba Buari Olayinka Balogun, has been on the throne since October 2007.
The Deputy Governor revealed that discussions had taken place with her counterpart in Ondo to address the crisis and that both states had agreed that the status quo should be maintained. Additionally, she stated that she had written to the National Boundary Commission, requesting the identification and demarcation of the areas in dispute based on historical data to resolve the conflict.
Salako-Oyedele assured the residents of the area of adequate security measures, affirming that the Ogun State Government would not cede any part of its land to Ondo due to the activities of criminals attempting to terrorize Ogun indigenes and incite discord between the neighboring states.
She concluded, “The deliberate attempt by these lawless individuals to stoke crisis will fail.” The Deputy Governor also urged residents in the area to remain law-abiding while the government carries out its constitutional duty of protecting them.
The boundary issue between Ogun and Ondo States has been a matter of concern, with previous attempts by Ondo to install traditional rulers in Ogun communities being met with resistance by the Ogun State Government.