IGBOMINA PATROTIC FRONT
NUT Building
Ijimu-Oro Rd;
P.O.BOX 163
Oro.
Kwara state
Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed,
The Executive Governor of Kwara State,
Government House,
Ilorin.
Your Excellency Sir,
We make this petition to you with a view to
obtaining from the Kwara State Government, which by the Grace of Allah is under
your able leadership, just, urgent and firm resolution of the protracted
dispute over land and chieftaincy rights between the Igbomina people of Ganmo,
who are the original settlers of the town, and the descendants of Idi Ape
Family, who arrived much later from Ilorin to settle in the town. Such a course
of action as we are requesting of your government is necessary to check the
arson and bloodshed that have recently stained the integrity of Kwara State.
The
history of Ganmo and the facts of the crisis arising from the conflicting claim
of the two groups on land and chieftaincy rights in the town are well
documented. The Oluganna family represents the Igbomina people while Oniganmo
represents the Idi-Ape descendants in the conflict. It is necessary to state
from the outset that the matters (both land and chieftaincy) have undergone
various tests since 1972, including litigations from the lowest to the highest
benches across the nation, the climax being major ones between 1981 and 2005.
These are suit nos KWS/113/81, CA/K/69/90, SC/1/1996 and suit nos KWS/OM/5/91
AND CA/IL/90/2006.
In 1981,
the Idi-Ape family represented by Alhaji Garba Akosile and six others challenged
amongst others, the claim to villages of Ganmo, Alomilaya, Adiloju and Gbagede
covered by, “Permit Alienated land No. 0239 and Customary Right of Occupancy
Title No. 283, granted to the Igbomina family of Oluganna, represented by
Alhaji Abbulkarim Kolawole (as the then
head of Igbomina in Ganmo).
The
action against Alhaji Kolawole and family (Igbomina) however failed in a
judgment delivered by Hon. Justice J. A. Ibitoye on 7th September 1989.This
attracted appeal and cross appeals under suit nos CA/K/69/90 and SC/1/1996,both
at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court respectively. In all the appeals,
Alhaji Kolawole and Oluganna family (Igbomina) retained the title to the land
of Ganmo and adjoining villages of Alomilaya and Gbagede. As if these were not
enough, the Idi-Ape family again instituted actions against Oluganna (Igbomina)
family in suit KWS/OM/5/91 and KWS/53/2005 respectively. In suit KWS/OM/5/91,
the Idi-Ape family through its representatives this time around, challenged the
claims to the traditional head of Ganmo, while in suit No. KWS/53/2005, the
same Idi-Ape family sought court interpretation of land ownership earlier
decided by the High Court, Appeal Court and Supreme Court respectively in
favour of Kolawole family (Igbomina).
In suit
KWS/53/2005 which was decided by an Ilorin High Court judge, His Lordship, Hon.
Justice A. A. Adebara on 27th Day of July 2005, various issues were touched and
determined by the learned judge in respect of land matters and invariably the
control of Ganmo. Apart from affirming the right of claim to Ganmo land by
Kolawole family (Igbomina), the court held that the family has right to
prosecute any person that trespasses on the land. It warned, “At appropriate
and relevant stage, a committal proceeding can hold against any of the parties
to the proceedings in suit No. KWS/113/81 or their servants, agents and/or
privies or any person whosoever claiming through them that disregard this
judgment”. This interpretation thus sealed the hope of Idi-Ape family to lay
any claim to Ganmo land.
Having failed
in its attempts to secure the grip of Ganmo land, the Idi-Ape family them
relied on suit no KWS/53/2005 before an Omu-Aran High Court presided over by
Hon. Justice Oluyemisi Ajayi, which was to determine who should be traditional
head of Ganmo. It needs mention that at various times, both the then Igbomina/Ekiti
Division and Ifelodun Local Government Enquiry under which Ganmo is situated,
had instituted Panels of Enquiry on the Ganmo Chieftaincy Stool. The contest
had also been entertained at Area Courts as far back as 1972. All the cases
were decided in favour of Oluganna family (Igbomina).
Paradoxically,
Hon. Justice Oluyemisi Ajayi decided against Oluganna family (Igbomina) and
awarded Idi-Ape family (Afonja) the chieftaincy stool of Ganmo. Expectedly, the
Oluganna family (I.e. the Igbomina), raised an appeal against the lower court
decision to the court of Appeal on many grounds which included:
(a) That the court jettisoned reports by the Panels of Enquiry to
Ganmo Chieftaincy Stool by Igbomina/Ekiti Division and Ifelodun Local
Government (the appointing authority) at various times.
(b) That the court refused to take cognizance of the fact that
ownership of Ganmo land by Oluganmo as the first settler is directly related to
the chieftaincy stool of Ganmo which is in line with Yoruba customs and tradition.
(c) That the court also refused to acknowledge the sacrosanct of
earlier decision of Supreme Court placed before it during the trial.
During
the trial before Hon. Justice Oluyemisi Ajayi, the Oluganna family traced its
lineage to Ganmo-Nganku who hailed from Oyo-Ile, and claimed to derive its name
from the founder of Ganmo, who was appointed and installed as the first Baale
of Ganmo by Alaafin of Oyo. The family claimed that Ganmo had been in existence
before Ilorin was founded.
According to the family
history, the first man from Ilorin (Idi-Ape family) to Ganmo was a slave to one
Summonu Okunoye, which the Idi-Ape family regarded as their progenitor. The
Oluganna family (Igbomina) claimed that the title of Mogaji and Baale meant two
different things and further claimed that there was no traditional office known
as Mogaji existing in Ganmo or any part of the district under Ifelodun Local
Government (Igbomina) in Kwara State.
We have
gone this far to trace the genesis of the crisis and how it has been repeatedly
resolved in favour of Igbomina in Ganmo i.e. the Oluganna family. It should
bother any sane mind therefore that despite all the victories of the Oluganna
family (Igbomina), the family has remained at the receiving end of injustice
through the neglect of the authorities. Suffice it to add that of all cases
(about seventeen) instituted at various times, the Oluganna family (Igbomina)
had been vindicated except the particular one handled by Hon. Justice Oluyemisi Ajayi (rtd), which
was eventually overturned by an appellate court in favour of Oluganna family.
From the
foregoing, it is crystal clear that the crisis in Ganmo shouldn’t have arisen
where there is respect for the rule of law and constituted authority. The
community had witnessed organized house burning and destruction of property,
maiming and killings in five different occasions with impunity. The first was
between 10th-12th July 2002, followed by others on 18th March 2008, 16th November
2010, 17th-18th March 2013 and 19th-21st June 2013. These attacks had always
started from one side-precisely from Idi-Ape descendants at Ganmo. In the
17th-18th March 2013 attack, twenty five houses were burnt, three people lost
their lives and others injured. In all, about 120 families were displaced.
Similarly, the latest attack of 19th-21st June 2013 claimed many lives and
property, including the Oluganna’s palace, which was completely burnt down.
The
Ganmo crisis poses many unanswered questions to the state government and security
agents. Why should a section of Ganmo Community be left unprotected? Why should
Idi-Ape descendants of Ganmo resort to self-help after failing in litigation
attempts? Has the crisis any ulterior motive yet to be unfolded?
It will
not be out of place to review other extraneous activities that may prove the
suspicions that the provoked crisis has a larger interest and backing.
Undoubtedly, Ganmo is a boundary town between Ilorin and Igbomina. The
South-West end of Ganmo has the Igbomina House strategically placed to
demarcate the boundary. It is recalled that during its construction, effort
were made by some unscrupulous people to thwart the efforts. Its official
commissioning also witnessed rancor.
It is
equally an open secret that part of Idofian District in Ifelodun Local
Government Area (in Igbomina land) was at a time proposed to be annexed to
Ilorin Emirate, a move vehemently opposed by Igbomina leaders. We also have it
in good authority that some leaders of Igbomina stock in Ganmo were been
lobbied to jettison Igbomina land in order to allow a shift of boundary between
Ilorin Emmirate and Igbomina land. This overture, we understand, has also been
rebuffed.
We do
not want to jump into conclusion over the motive on this persistent crisis but
we hasten to add that the patience of Igbomina of Ganmo, the proven original
settlers nay, Igbomina nation have been over stretched. Ganmo is proven to be
Igbomina as represented by the Oluganna and the owner of land and paramount
ruler of Ganmo. This is consistent with history, facts and law! Government
should do the right thing by according Ganmo its status and Oluganna (Igbomina)
his rightful place amongst the Obas in Kwara State.
We
detest the provocation of our kinsmen in Ganmo which should stop henceforth. We
hereby implore the law enforcement agents and all concerned authorities to be
up and doing to protect lives and property in Ganmo, particularly the Igbomina
Community against the aggression of Idi-Ape descendants. Let there be Peace!
The
current resort to violence in Ganmo is a test of the will of the Kwara State
Government to protect the people and integrity of Kwara as the State of
Harmony. It is the historic responsibility of Your Excellency to check the
rascality and ensure peaceful coexistence of the people of the town through a
decisive action based on Truth, Justice and the Rule of Law.
We will
continue to support your administration and pray for God’s guidance, all times.
Yours
faithfully,
Dn O. S.
Awolaran Lawrence
Adeboye Esq
National Secretary
Asst. National Secretary
Chief
Adeboye Olabanji
Chairman
Source: National Mirror News Paper
