Shina Abubakar, Osogbo

Fresh crisis looms between Ife and Modakeke communities as Ife residents accused the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Joseph Toriola, of attempting to illegally install village heads in areas reportedly belonging to Ile-Ife.

Ife and Modakeke have been at involved in decades long communal crisis over boundary issues as the two neighbouring communities living with fragile peace.

Speaking at a press conference in Ile-Ife, the President Great Ife Movement, GIM, Femi Oyeyinka, condemned alleged move, warning that it could disrupt the fragile peace between the two communities and lead to renewed conflict.

According to the group, “From time immemorial, we know that Toro, Alapata, Oyere, Onibambu, Oduranyin and other Group of Villages within the aforementioned axis rightly belonged to Ife families. Besides, these towns and villages are located in Ife North Local Government Area and not Ife East Local Government Area.

“These Areas are under the exclusive jurisdiction of His Imperial Majesty, Arole Oduduwa, the Ooni of Ife. We consider this attempt to install these illegal Baale as a criminal act of trespass and clear affront to His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja Il, the Ooni of Ife who has been doing all within his royal power to promote peace through his well-acclaimed peace agenda

“Without mincing words, this illegal attempt to install Baales in areas which exclusive and ancestrally belong to Ife families is capable of causing disaffection among the residents in these areas which could result to breach of public peace. Be further informed that these actions are offences punishable with imprisonment under the Chief Laws of Osun State. In view of the above-mentioned reasons, we now want Ogunsua of Modakeke Ile-Ife, Oba J.O. Toriola to refrain from further action (s) connected with the proposed installation of Baale on Ife-owned Lands.

“Information reaching us this morning is that Modakeke had gone to some part of Ayingun, Oke-Eso, lle-Ife to offload some lorry loads of sand to erect another gigantic structure there, that Ayingun, Oke-Eso, lle-Ife belongs to them again. How long can Ife continue to stomach this type of provocation?”

Oyeyinka also called on the Osun State Government, law enforcement agencies, political leaders, and traditional rulers to intervene immediately and prevent actions that could escalate into violence.

Reacting, The President Modakeke Development Union, MPU, Professor Peter Olawuni described the allegation as tissues of lies.

He said the Ogunsua of Modakeke has no intention of installing any Baale in any of the mentioned villages, saying, “Baales are already in the said villages. The allegations are mere fabrication. The Ogunsua formenting any crisis, he is peace loving and wants peace”.