Owa Obokun: Osun Ijesaland Land Chieftaincy Committee to Resolve Disputes

• The Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adesuyi Hastrup, has reconstituted an eight-member committee to address land and chieftaincy disputes.
• The Osun Ijesaland land chieftaincy committee encourages residents to use Alternative Dispute Resolution for peaceful settlements.
• The committee aims to reduce chieftaincy disputes, which account for over 70 percent of such cases in Osogbo courts from Ijesaland.
• It will collaborate with the Osun State Boundary Commission to resolve boundary complaints and tackle Omo Onile activities and land grabbing.
• Residents can submit 12 copies of their petitions to the committee's secretariat, which will hold sittings four times monthly.

The committee aims to significantly reduce the high volume of chieftaincy disputes originating from Ijesaland, which currently account for over 70 percent of such cases heard in Osogbo courts.

The Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adesuyi Hastrup, has established a reconstituted Committee on Land Matters and Chieftaincy Affairs, tasked with resolving long-standing land ownership and chieftaincy disagreements within the region. This eight-member Osun Ijesaland land chieftaincy committee, chaired by Pa Ebenezer Adefalu, held its inaugural session in Ilesa, Osun State, where it urged residents across the six local government areas to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as a primary method for settling their grievances.

Professor Kolawole Kazeem, serving as the committee's secretary, conveyed this message on behalf of the chairman during the maiden sitting. He emphasized the panel's commitment to ensuring peaceful resolutions for existing land and chieftaincy cases, even those already undergoing litigation in courts across the six local government areas of Ijesaland. The committee includes other notable members such as Oba Peter Adebamigbe, Rev. Abiodun Osungbohun, Prof. Olu Obi, Yemisi Ariyibi, and Chief Daramola Daisi, reflecting a broad representation from the community.

The Osun Ijesaland land chieftaincy committee has been given a clear mandate to significantly reduce the prevalence of chieftaincy disputes, which currently constitute a substantial portion of cases heard in Osogbo courts, with over 70 percent originating from Ijesaland. While the committee functions in an advisory capacity rather than as a final authority, its role is crucial in de-escalating conflicts and fostering amicable settlements.

Beyond internal disputes, the committee is also poised to address broader issues, including unlawful Omo Onile activities Ijesaland, land grabbing, and trespass by communities situated along Ijesaland's borders. To tackle these complex boundary challenges, the committee will actively engage in Osun State Boundary Commission collaboration, presenting petitions from affected towns and villages and working with the commission to expedite resolutions. This collaborative effort extends to potentially liaising with neighboring states like Ondo and Ekiti, ensuring a comprehensive approach to boundary disputes.

The committee's proactive stance aims to prevent conflicts and potential 'wars' over land and chieftaincy matters throughout Ijesaland. It will investigate various complaints, including those related to land grabbing and trespass, and leverage its collaboration with the Osun State Boundary Commission to resolve issues affecting communities in Obokun, Oriade, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Atakumosa East, and Atakumosa West local government areas.

Residents seeking resolution for their land or chieftaincy disputes are encouraged to submit their petitions to the committee's secretariat, providing 12 copies of each complaint. The Osun Ijesaland land chieftaincy committee plans to hold sittings four times each month, demonstrating its commitment to a timely and accessible dispute resolution process. This initiative builds upon Oba Adesuyi Hastrup's earlier actions, which included inaugurating the committee and reiterating a ban on the activities of land grabbers in the area, underscoring a concerted effort towards Osun land grabbing dispute resolution and peaceful coexistence.

Lawyers representing clients in land or chieftaincy disputes within Osun's Ijesaland should advise on engaging with the newly reconstituted committee, leveraging its Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism to potentially resolve matters outside of court or expedite boundary dispute resolutions through collaboration with the Osun State Boundary Commission.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH