Ikale, Araromi crises: General Bajowa accuses Akeredolu of bias, injustice
- General Bajowa (Rtd) has accused Governor Akeredolu of injustice against Ikale nation over land crises with Araromi people
- The court had recently ruled in favour of Ikaleland in a case initiated by Araromi and this has degenerated into crises
- Meanwhile, Donald Ojogo, commissioner for information and orientation, dismissed the allegations against the governor
General Oluyemi Bajowa (Rtd), has accused Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of bias and disrespect over the land tussle crises involving Ikale nation and Araromi, a community in Odigbo local government.
Bajowa who disclosed this in a press conference in Akure, the capital of Ondo state, and made available to Legit.ng, alleged that Akeredolu only listened to the side of Araromi people who are settlers in the area without listening to the Ikale side of the story.
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The respected ex-military chief said the Ondo state governor consequently used the one sided story to insult traditional rulers in Ikale land with a threat to use security agencies to 'level Ikale communities' in Odigbo
The general who is also the Jagunmolu of Ikaleland added that Akeredolu, at the palace Abodi of Ikaleland, Oba George Faduyile in Ikoya, went to the extent of boasting that he does not need the vote of Ikale people.
“I was shocked and horrified at his public display and pronouncement of power, devoid of decency and protocol, by taking the Abodi and other Ikale traditional rulers present to the cleaners.
“He threatened to instruct the security services to level to the ground Ago Alaye and other Ikale villages in Araromi-Obu and its environs; he also threw caution to the wind by boasting that he does not need Ikale votes for his re-election,” Bajowa lamented.
Accusing the governor of injustice, Bajowa alleged what he described as indiscriminate and one sided arrest of 15 Ikale people, including an 89-year- old man who have been remanded in prison custody for no reason other than being Ikale.
“Surprisingly, no police arrest has been made on the side of Araromi-Obu settlers,” he said.
Going further, Bajowa alleged that it was the Araromi people who attacked the people of Ikaleland and not the other way round.
He proceeded to reveal that Araromi people were actual guests on Ikalaland and that they recently lost a case over the ownership of most areas in the local government.
"Obu settlers were largely farmers who easily intermarried with Ikale people. The letter written by Rev David Hinderer in 1875 about Obu is a documentary evidence, from a third party who had no interest to serve and at a time when the current dispute was not anticipated, supporting the claim of Ikale people as the land owners of Araromi-Obu and its environs," he said.
He said Araromi initiated the case against their Ikale landlords and 15 years after, the court ruled in favour of Ikaleland.
However, Donald Ojogo, commissioner for information and orientation, dismissed the allegations against the governor.
He said Akeredolu is committed to keeping peace across the state.
Meanwhile, recall that Legit.ng had reported that retired major general, Oluyemi Bajowa, said President Muhammadu Buhari was the most suitable presidential candidate that can successfully eradicate corruption in Nigeria.
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Source: Legit.ng