Its been cries and cries of marginalization of the Yewa/Awori in the western part of Ogun State since
Senator Ibikunle Amosun became the governor of the State in 2011.
The recent announcement of creation of Local Council
Development Authority (LCDA) across the state may be unfolding another
dimension of marginalization as our findings indicate.
The government of Senator ibikunle Amosun had in March
2016 announced the creation of 57 LCDAs
to even physical and human developments all over Ogun State.
Investigations conducted by our reporter revealed that
some of the LCDAs created in Ogun West, particularly in Ado-odo/Ota have raised
some questions over territory and given names.
The Aworis are presently sad as the process of LCDAs
creation continues in the Gateway State..
Findings revealed that Sango-Ijoko LCDA have been subject
of debate in the Ogun State government circle since it was announced.
It was learnt that the Aworis would prefer the name to be
Ijoko-Ota LCDA and not Sango –Ijoko as announced by the State Government.
We were also informed that some Awori stake holders had
been to the State House of Assembly to make their position known to the law
makers which did not make any difference.
Impeccable source told us that an Ota Prince who is
presently a senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Prince Gbolahan
Dada is not also happy about the development.
The source narrated that “Prince Gbolahan Dada is not
happy about the state government’s decision to name of the LCDAs in his local
government as Sango-Ijoko.
“The senator and the governor are presently at loggerheads
over the latter’s firm decision on the matter.
“In fact, the governor told Senator Gbolahan Dada
pointblank that he would never change the name from what he has announced that
the Ota prince can wait till an Awori man becomes the governor of the state to
make way for the Awori’s desires.”
This development according to our reporters’ further digs
has broken the long time close relationship of the two friends and political
gladiators.
Further investigations conducted revealed that Senator Gbolahan
Dada before politics had helped Senator Ibikunle Amosun with several business
links while the latter had repaid by ensuring the prince become a Senator of
the Federal Republic.
“The governor and the Prince are very close and before
now governor Amosun was planning to make Prince Gbolahan Dada his successor but
I think the governor have changed his mind now and he (Governor Amosun) is looking
in the direction of making an Ijebu man his successor.” Our source disclosed.
However, Engineer Layiwola, a staunch member of
Iganmode Club of Ota explained to our reporters that “Sango is just a name
given to Hausa based markets or settlements outside their territory. Just as we
have places called Sango or Zango in other parts of the country like Ibadan,
Ilorin, Agege and even as far as Lome in Togo. I think giving the LCDA
Sango-Ijoko has another political ulterior motive”.
He also added that “ the place called Sango-Ota and Ijoko
were Awori’s farm land for over 300 years as we have it in our documented
history. So I don’t see any reason why anybody or group of people would want to
claim these places from us”
Another source from Ota also told our reporters that the
Owus from Abeokuta for over a decade have been trying to forcefully take over
some of their territories.
“The Owus from Abeokuta for over a decade have been
trying to forcefully take over some of our territories which include Ijoko-Ota,
Iju-Ota Atan-Ota and some parts of the settlement of Awori progenitor,
Isheri-Olofin
“As a peace loving ethnic, the then Olori of Ijoko now
the Onijoko of Ijoko-Ota, Oba Fatai Alani Matanmi took the matter in a civil
way rather than responding to the violence brought to us by taking the matter to several courts
and got judgements in favour of the Aworis including a Supreme Court Judgement.” Our source stated.
It was also discovered that there is another Oba in Ijoko,
Lasisi Kolapo Ogunseye whom sources divulged represents the Olowu of Owu’s
interest.
“He (Lasisi Kolapo Ogunseye) has been declared as an illegal
oba by an Ota High Court but he still parading himself as Oba because he has
some powerful forces backing him up, including the state governor. Oba Fatai Alani Matanmi is the
official Onijoko of Ijoko-Ota going by the State Gazette.” The source revealed.
Further findings uncovered a long time silent battle
between the Aworis and the Owus from Egba division over the rightful owners of
some towns and lands in Ado-odo/Ota Local Government including Sango-Ota and
Ijoko-Ota.
Watch this space for exclusive full details of the
Awori-Egba battle in Ado-odo/Ota Local Government over the rightful owners of
towns and lands
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