The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, has stated that the indigenous people and residents of the old city are having a big problem with land grabbing.
The ex-governor of Oyo State, Ladoja, made the statement on Friday while speaking to the many journalists that had flocked to his Ibadan mansion on Ondo Street, Bodija to cover this year’s Eid-Fitri celebration.
According to Gistcon, Muslims all over the world celebrated Eid-Fitri on Friday.
In response to enquiries from reporters, Ladoja emphasised that land grabs have been an ongoing issue that the old city’s inhabitants and indigenous people have been fighting for decades.
According to him, this is having a detrimental impact on the old city’s social and economic development.
As part of his efforts to address the issue, Ladoja mentioned that he has ordered all land custodians, including village chiefs (Baales), to not allow any kind of land grabs within their communities.
Furthermore, he mentioned that local security organisations have also been instructed to address the issue as soon as it occurs.
When asked about the present security situation in the old city, Ladoja said that everyone is working together to find a solution.
The conventional institution and the state, he said, are handling things very well.
According to him, Fulani herders are unrelated to the latest kidnappings that have taken place in the old city.
As you have mentioned, we believed it was the North’s problem,” Ladoja told reporters. All these folks want is money, and they’re not afraid to get it. Regardless of what it is, it is unrelated to Fulani.
I am happy to report that they have discovered that here in Ibadanland, we are in complete control. I won’t pretend there aren’t any examples; I just want to stress that we’re fixing them as soon as they crop up.
Are you aware that three of the alleged terrorists were apprehended in the Oluyole Local Government Area that you brought up? Arresting even a small number of them would put us in control of the situation. We have everything under control.
And land grabbing, not kidnapping, is the worst issue in Ibadan. The issue, however, is being addressed. Someone is already claiming the land you buy if you wish to invest right now.
I warned you that we had alerted the Baales to take command of their territories, and now you know. We are also coordinating with neighbourhood watch groups.