CDWR CONDEMNS OBA OJORA OF IJORA’S LAND GRABBING AND EXTORTIONIST ACTIVITIES IN AJEGUNLE, LAGOS
Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) condemns the extortionist and land/property-grabbing activities of Oba of Ijora in some parts of Ajegunle in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government of Lagos State.
This land/property grabbing is carried out through brute force of invasion of people’s homes, attack on occupants of the property including the landlord and tenants and wanton destruction of the property. In a nutshell, the Oba of Ijora’s goons unleash terror, forcing the occupants and landlords to flee and give up possession, something which enables the royal family to take possession and resell some of these property to other persons. The invasion is usually done by weapon-wielding thugs who, in most cases, are reportedly members of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC). They remove the roof, knock down doors, windows and cause so much damage and destruction.
Recently, there were orchestrated invasions, attacks and destructions of about 29 houses, reminiscent of a community war-like invasion, whose damage is in hundreds of millions of Naira while many have been forcefully displaced. The Oba’s media aide (Circle Connect) stated that the owners of the invaded property are tenants under leasehold agreements who failed to renew their leases and as a result have forfeited their rights to the land. This response from the Oba media confirms that these invasions and attacks happened on the directive of Oba AbdulFatai Oyeyinka Aremu Aromire II, the Ojora of Ijora. Besides, there is no lease agreement to buttress Oba AbdulFatai Aromire’s claims. Many property owners assert that they bought the land from the royal family or land owners and were not under any lease or tenancy agreement. Hence, the annual royal property fee imposed on property owners in Ajegunle by the Ojora Royal family is illegal and extortionist.
The office of the Executive Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government and the Local Government Chairman (Mr Olalekan Olu Akindipe) issued a statement stating that land disputes are not within the local government purview as it is within the mandate of the Lagos State Government and judiciary but had intervened by calling the DPO of Ajeromi Police Station to “halt the activities and maintain peace and order”. What are the activities the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government called the DPO to halt for peace and order to be maintained? These activities are actually criminal invasion of peoples’ property, displacement of people and destruction of property, which have been going on in Ajegunle for decades and under the watchful eyes and with tacit support of the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government.
The Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government and the Lagos State Government cannot absolve themselves from the violent land-grabbing activities of Oba of Ijora. This explains why nobody has been arrested and prosecuted despite that the invasion and destruction of property lasted several hours while Divisional Police Stations are in close proximity to these crime scenes.
However, without conceding that Oba AbdulFatai Aromire has any claim to the property, what is the justification for the attack on people, wanton destruction of property and displacement of people without court order and due process of law? These forceful evictions and attacks by Oba AbdulFatai Aromire and his hired thugs on the good people of Ajegunle are illegal, unlawful, criminal, ultra vires, wicked and uncivil. We call on Oba AbdulFatai Oyeyinka Aremu Aromire II, the Ojora of Ijora, to seek civil engagements whenever there are land disputes including filing a civil suit in law court. Being a king does not give Oba Ojora of Ijora the right and power to declare war on the people of Ajegunle and arrogate to himself the power of an emperor over a so-called conquered territory.
The CDWR demands an end to these attacks on property and occupants and adequate compensation paid for the destruction of property and assault on occupants. We call on the Nigeria Police to arrest and prosecute those that perpetuated these attacks and their sponsors.
We appeal to the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and other pro-people civil society organisations to intervene in order to protect the poor people of Ajegunle who are being subjected to harassment, assault and forced displacement, including instituting civil actions on their behalf.
Rufus Olusesan
National Chairperson
Chinedu Bosah
National Publicity Secretary
E-mail: [email protected]