Ilaje Nation rejects Ijebu State, warns FG against stoking Ogun, Ondo tension

The monarchs and entire indigenes of the Ilaje nation, Ondo State, have made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government against moves that will adversely affect the existing inter-state relationships between Ondo and Ogun states.

The President-General, Egbe Omo Ilaje World-Wide, Prince Iwamitigha Raphael Irowainu, who made the appeal during a press conference at the weekend in Lagos, said Ilaje people have rejected their rumoured inclusion in the proposed Ijebu State.

Irowainu also begged the Federal Government to ensure that Ilaje towns and villages merged with the present Ogun State in 1976 are returned to their kith and kin in Ondo State, as advised by the Irikefe panel on the creation of states and boundary adjustment in 1975.

He said: “As far as we are aware, the move to include Ilaje land or any part of Ilaje local council area in the proposed Ijebu State does not enjoy the support of any section or kingdom in Ilaje land. In the ongoing state and local council creation proposed before the National Assembly, we make bold to confirm that there was never any request to include Ilaje land in the proposed Ijebu State.

“If we had wanted such a demand, we could have submitted such a desire to the committee on the proposal of state and local council area creation at the National Assembly.”

While affirming that their consent was not sought on such a far-reaching political decision and arrangement, Irowainu noted that, for the avoidance of doubt, they shall, under the law, resist vehemently any attempt to include Ilaje land in the proposed Ijebu State or any other proposed state, whatever the name.

“The Ijebu can have their state, but we do not wish to be part of it. That is all we are saying. Furthermore, we are using this medium to appeal to the Federal Government to ensure that Ilaje towns and villages, which were merged with the present Ogun State in 1976, are returned to their kith and kin in Ondo State, as advised by the Irikefe panel on the creation of states and boundary adjustment in 1975.

“The affected villages and towns, which were mainly Ilaje before the creation of states in 1976, are Itebu Manuwa, Ajegunle, Ayetumara, Igboedu, Obinehin, Arijan, among others.

“We know that the present administration has been trying hard to better the socio-economic well-being of the people of this country and that it is the wish of the Federal Government that peace should reign supreme. It is for this reason that we are fervently praying that the Federal Government does not do anything that will adversely affect the existing inter-state relationships.

“Specifically, we are praying that Ilaje land/Ilaje Local Council areas in Ondo State should, on no account, be included in the proposed Ijebu State.”

He reiterated that the present Ilaje local council area should be retained intact in the present Ondo State.

“We use this medium to redress the injustice done to Ilaje in 1976 by returning the above-named settlements, which were formerly in old Okitipupa Division, to Ondo State.

“In light of the foregoing, we are hereby calling on Governor Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa, as the chief security officer of the state, to protect the Ilaje communities on the borderline with Ogun State, as there have been severe threats from some officers from Ogun State in collaboration with some unscrupulous security agencies to undermine the protection of the lives and properties of our people.

Such communities include Atijere, Ugboedun, Irokun, Ayetumara, Obinehin, etc.

“We want to affirm our avowed commitment to the maintenance, defense, and promotion of Ilaje unity, territory, and culture as an integral part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and we urge all persons of Ilaje origin or descent to remain vigilant and shun all forms of inducement that may compromise our inherited territorial integrity, as there will be severe consequences for such unpatriotic acts.”