Itaji, Ayede agree to sheate swords, push 3-year-old land dispute to history
Indications have emerged that the two warring Ekiti communities of Itaji and Ayede in Oye Local Government of Ekiti State may have resolved to once and for all stop their dispute of three years over land matter and reconcile to move forward.
The latest development, being facilitated by two princes of Itaji Ekiti and Isolo Akure, Ondo State (names withheld),
The DEFENDER gathered Thursday night, became imperative as the two monarchs of the communities separately spoke on their clean mindedness to each other and so that it would do no good to any of them should such dispute over land continue.
Our correspondent, who spoke with both influential Ekiti monarchs, was assured that the time for the fight to end was now.
In his submission, the Attah of Ayede Ekiti, Oba Alhaji AbdulMumini Adebayo Orisagbemi, said, “I swear by Allah that I have no issue against Onitaji of Itaji. He was the one that was using power to deal with me and my people of Ayede without justification.
“You saw how it happened that somebody was beheaded in a small community between our two communities. Nobody knew how it happened but the way it appeared, it was more of ritual killing as parts of the person killed were found missing. It later happened that on another occasion, because of a land dispute, an Itaji person openly used pump action gun to kill a father of four from my community who had gone on my message to access what the land dispute was and feed me back. The killer was however arrested by the people and handed to the police.
“To my greatest surprise, instead of looking at the damage caused Ayede community over the gruesome murder of the father of four, what we saw was that police came in the midnight and started arresting my people including one of my chiefs. On getting to the state police command, where they were being detained and inquiring why the arrest, it was the issue of an earlier beheaded person that had nothing to do with what we knew of land dispute they were arrested for. The Onitaji then started using the media to tell many unspeakable things about me. But we got out of that and here we are.
“However, I have put all of that behind me as I am prepared to honour any move made to reconcile me and Onitaji, who I hold in high esteem, together to be in peace and harmony once again,” Attah said.
Oba Orisagbemi, responding to question about both communities in court, said, “No. I know nothing about the court matter. But by the grace of Allah, if I am asked to be part of solution even to that, I will be ready to join in finding solution.” Attah said.
In his own submission, the ageing Onitaji of Itaji, Oba Alhaji Adamo Babalola, a former Chairman, Old Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, said he would never be part of anything that would hurt the Attah of Ayede.
The monarch, who was once Vice President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islam Affairs (NSCIA) in the time of Sultan Muhammadu Maccido, said: “Attah of Ayede and I knew each other long before he became Attah. We have been very close and as Muslims we related well. But when things you don’t expect happened from people, you will naturally be surprised.
“However, we are human beings and cannot but make mistakes. I will be ready for any move to reconcile with Attah so that our people can once again see themselves as brothers and sisters,” Onitaji said.
Itaji is a stone throw from Ayede on the way from Oye to Isan, the country home of the Minister of Solid Minerals and former governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
