ABEOKUTA– The Imo Descendants Association of Orile Imo, in Obafemi Owode local government area of Ogun state have accused Engr. Akeem Adesina, the Odofin of imo and SA to the Governor of landgrabbing activity in the area.
The association also fingered Chief Olalekan Olakunle Joseph, the Asiwaju of Orile Imo of conspiracy in selling their land to foreigners without their consent.
The association chairman, Oluwaseyi Abolade Lemo stated this while briefly newsmen at a press conference held in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital on Thursday
Lemo added that Orile Imo is under siege by these conspirators and therefore called on the state government for a timely intervention before it snowball into a larger crisis.
He also noted that the issue of Obaship of the area has been subjected to all manners of extortion of the candidates by the Imo Traditional Council, while calling on the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo to wade in.
“The issue of Obaship in Orile lmo has witnessed an unprecedented extortion of the candidates by the lmo traditional council.
“As the selling of forms to the intending candidates is ongoing at various times, new candidates are being sponsored into the race by the council members by the day. ln like manner, candidates are being arm twisted to part with various sum of money at different times by the
different camps within the council.
“Evidences abound of some of the candidates bribing them with motor vehicle. These and various flagrant violations of ethics of leadership and nation building of which Egba people are noted for and also being emphasized by our amiable governor Prince Dr Dapo
Abiodun and Egba traditional leadership; Oba Dr Michael Aremu Gbadebo; has made the issue of Obaship in the community an intractable, open ended business venture as designed by lmo
traditional council.
“IDA is greatly embarrassed by the fact that a community with illustrious sons and daughters like Honorable Oni ( a one time local chairman of Obafemi Owode local government, Hon Olubode Oni ( one time House Rep member), Rev Dr Tunde Lemo (one time CBN DG), Prof Femi Fatade (one time Rector, Adegbenro Polytechnic, ltori) and Eng Akeem Adesina (one time chairman of Obafemi Owode local government) to mention but a few; is being subjected to this kind of internal colonization by a few privileged opportunistic cabal”, he added
Meanwhile, Engr. Kehinde Adeoso, the General Secretary of the association in his remarks raises the issue of Indigeneship of Chief Olalekan Olakunle Joseph, the Asiwaju of Orile Imo, saying that findings revealed that “Olakunle Joseph is not from Orile imo, he is from Ijesha in Osun state”.
“Since the demise of the past Oba Kolawole, we have not seen any development, but they keep on extorting our people”, he added
When contacted, Engr. Akeem Adesina brushed off the allegations, describing it one of the ‘village politics’.
