Ondo State, Nigeria – The Irokun community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State has strongly refuted the claims made by the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, asserting that the community belongs to Ogun State. The dispute centers around the boundary between the two states and has led to allegations of encroachments and attacks.
Mrs. Salako-Oyedele had called on the Ondo State Government to address what she perceived as incursions by Ondo citizens into Ogun territory and reported attacks on indigenes in the bordering communities. She also accused the community of imposing Adeyinka Abejoye-Ogunyemi as the traditional ruler, labeling it illegal and an act of impersonation.
However, in a letter addressed to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, signed by the secretary, Emmanuel Ogunbajo, the Irokun community vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that the Ogun State deputy governor must have been misinformed about the boundary issue.
The letter, titled ‘Re: Stop incessant attacks on our communities, Ogun urges Ondo State,’ argued that historical documents clearly indicate Irokun’s status as an Ilaje community within Ondo State.
The statement from Irokun community read in part, “While we do not intend to join issues with the Ogun State Deputy Governor on this worn-out and ineffective claim, we, however, owe it a duty to the public for the umpteenth time to set the records straight that Irokun is an ancient Ilaje Kingdom, whose people are Ilaje, and they speak undiluted Ilaje-Yoruba within the territory of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, and nothing will change that reality.”
The community pointed out that all archival documents supporting their claims on the community’s location were in the possession of the National Boundaries Commission.
The statement also addressed the deputy governor’s claim that the Olurokun of Irokun was a member of the Ijebu Traditional Council. Irokun community provided records that as far back as 1920, it was confirmed that neither Irokun nor the village of Obi was in Ijebu territory. The National Boundary Commission conducted an ethnographic study to resolve the dispute and rejected Ogun State’s expansionist claims.
The Irokun community declared its unwavering position, stating, “No matter the pressure from Ogun State, we will maintain the status quo that Irokun kingdom is an integral part of Ilaje and Ondo State.”
The boundary dispute remains unresolved, and tensions persist between the two states over the ownership of Irokun community.