Ijesa Mining: Stop Mining in Ijesaland Now! Oba Aromolaran Cries Out, Indicts Lojas of Illicit Affairs with Miners

The Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Dr. Adekunle Aromolaran has called on the State of Osun governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola to consider stopping the activities of miners, whether legal or illegal for the time being. He berated the activities and involvement of some of the Obas and Lojas of the area where there is gold deposit in Ijesaland.

Speaking when the Speaker of the State of Osun House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye paid him a thank you visit in his Ilesa palace the Osun first class Oba claimed that he had a well attended meeting with all the traditional rulers of towns and villages of Ijesaland and he made stunning discoveries. He discovered that even many of the Lojas are directly and some indirectly involved in mining activities. He revealed that he declined participation when he was approached because he had made enough money as successful academia and publisher before God made him  a king.

He specifically mentioned the nefarious involvement of the Atagunmodi of Itagunmodi, the Loja of Ibodi and the Onibala of Ibala.

He revealed that the Loja of Ibodi whom he did not approve of his installation has sold out a strategically located 40,000 hectares of land to the Hausa/Fulani community, the Atagunmodi sold farmlands and even rented out his palace to the Hausa/Fulani miners, many of them displaced from Zamfara State. Whereas, under the watch and the connivance of Onibala of Ibala the Hausa/Fulani miners have invaded the one time serene town in thousands, outnumbering the indigenes.

He also claimed that many other rulers of Ijesaland are culprits. He therefore appealed to all well meaning Ijesa community leaders, sons and daughters to caution their Lojas as he warned the State Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Department not to lead Ijesaland into disarray and to refrain from installing Lojas that turned themselves to Obas without his approval. He cracked jokes of some "Obas" riding okada and of one driving himself in a Volkswagen Beetle with "His Royal Highness" as car plate number.

Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye while responding appreciated the congratulatory letter received from the Owa Obokun the next day after he sworn in. He thanked him for his support and the support of all Ijesas particularly the voters of Ilesa East State constituency, saying that had he not been returned by his people of Ikesa East State Vonstituency, he wouldn't have become the Speaker.

He also appreciated the Ijesa APC leaders starting from Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Baba Bisi Akande, Leader Kunle Odeyemi, Elder Lowo Adebiyi, all Ijesa leaders. He extended his appreciation to all the Agba Osun and also the people of Osun for accepting his emergence.

The Speaker assured the kabiyesi that the House of Assembly has put into motion measures to combat the situation of insecurity that our state is facing and that very soon the House will organize a stakeholders' forum on security where retired officers, chiefs and community leaders will have opportunity to deliberate on which commensurate punishment should be enacted for offenders found guilty of breaching of security.

The Osun Speaker was accompanied on the visit by Leader Kunle Odeyemi, Hon. Oladipo Adeniyi, Hon. Wale Adedoyin, Elder Lowo Adebiyi, Hon. Folarin Fafowora, Hon. Akeem Adesoji Olowoopejobori, Barr. Femi Onigbogi among others.

Photos credit: Gbenga Adeniyi