Sunday, May 29, 2011

I’ve no power over family farmlands —Ooni

Written by Supo Awodoyin, Ile-Ife
for nigerian tribune


The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II, told the Osun State Truth and Reconciliation Commission (OSTRC) on Tuesday that he had no absolute power over individual family farmlands in Ife territory.

Oba Sijuwade made the declaration when members of the commission, led by its chairman, Honourable Justice Samson Uwaifo, paid him a courtesy visit in his palace.
A group of Modakeke farmers who lost their farmlands in Ogudu and Bowaje villages during the last communal crisis in Ile-Ife had approached the Truth and Reconciliation Commission which ended its sitting in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Wednesday for the purpose of returning to their farms.
The Ooni who expressed his willingness “to do what is legally right and help,” however added that, “much as I am prepared to help, I don’t want to lose my crown in the process because I was made the Ooni by the people of Ife.”
The traditional ruler told the commission that a committee, headed by a former minister, had earlier been set up to ensure reconciliation in this regard.
He explained that “either in Ogudu or Bowaje, they are tenants and they must be prepared to enter into agreements with their landlords.”
Oba Sijuwade, therefore, advised the aggrieved farmers to go back to the committee earlier raised for the same purpose to ensure permanent settlement.
He further pointed out that as part of his readiness to achieve integration with the people of Modakeke, “I have just installed their Baale as an Oba.”
In his speech, Justice Uwaifo stated that the commission discovered that there were difficulties in solving the problem of the aggrieved Modakeke farmers, “hence we decided to visit the source.”
The commission chairman, however, said that the “Ooni should not be seen as the obstacle in solving the problem.”
He thanked the Oba for the honour done him and members of the commission who accompanied him during the visit.
Other members of the commission on Justice Uwaifo’s entourage were Yunus Ustaz Usman (SAN), Comrade Rufus Oyatoro and Mr Nurudeen Ogbara who is the secretary to the commission.
Also at the palace to receive members of the commission were members of the Osun State Council of Obas and Chiefs and community leaders.

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