The Yakooyo Progressive Union (YPU), an umbrella body for all indigenes of the Yakooyo community in Osun State, on Sunday exonerated ex-Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd), from any link to alleged land grabbing.

The union made this disclosure in a press statement co-signed by its president and general secretary, Mr. Wale Oyebowale and Mr. Foluso Olanrewaju, in response to the allegation against Akinrinade by residents of Moro, a neighbouring community to Yakooyo.

Dismissing the allegation, YPU explained that the project being misconstrued as Akinrinade’s personal project was actually conceived by Yakooyo town to honour the ex-CDS in recognition of his contributions to the development of his hometown.

The statement read, “We want to inform the world that General Alani Akinrinade is not involved in land grabbing as being insinuated by the people of Moro, neither has he deployed any single soldier as alleged, for any reason, to say the least.

“It is to be noted, however, that the Yakooyo community has concluded plans to build an ultra-modern civic centre to be named after Alani Akinrinade along Ipetumodu Road, Ojugboro area, Yakooyo.”

While contending that the land on which the proposed project would be sited does not form part of Origbo Anglican Grammar School land, the community subsequently urged the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, and the Department of State Services to intervene and protect the community from invasion by those who wanted to chase the residents out of their ancestral land.

“Consequently, we dispel and condemn in strong terms the notion of land grabbing nurtured by any individual or community to unduly seek global attention that will further plunge our dear Osun State into another communal crisis.

“We are also calling on Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to intervene and look into the seeming disagreement over boundaries in the area and act to prevent another communal crisis in the state,” the statement concluded