By Tobias Rolayo
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke and Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Mr. Wale Egbedun, have been identified as unseen hands allegedly behind the forceful take over of Osogbo Government Technical College land.
The property running into several hectares of land located right in the middle of Osogbo town is owned by the Technical College.
But recently, a private developer suddenly showed up and erected a signpost on the land, claiming to be working in collaboration with the state government.
The land in question estimated to worth around N10 billion is already a subject of litigation between a royal family in Osogbo and the State Government.
According to informed sources, the judgment of the State High Court had already returned thd land to the family, who ceded it to the government when Technical College was to be established.
It was however learnt that rather than going on appeal, the government had indicated interest to tow the line of Alternative Dispute Resolution, when a signpost surfaced on the land, suggesting a new owner has taken possession of the property.
“On the signpost, the consultant, claimed it was in partnership with State Capital Development Authority. But further checks revealed that the Speaker of the House of Assembly and the governor were the unseen hands hiding behind the consultant to annex the land.
“A royal family in Osogbo here got a favorable judgement from the High Court to reclaim the land being the original owner that ceded it to the government when Osogbo Government Technical College was to be established.
“The land is large enough to accommodate a university and it’s currently worth will exceed N10 billion, if a plot is sold at the miser rate of N5 million. The matter is currently generating lot of concerns among Osogbo people. They are ready to go to war against Adeleke and his Speaker,” a source in government said.
Displeased by the development, the immediate past Field Commander of Osun Amotekun Corps, Mr. Amitolu Shittu, called on the indigenes of Osogbo to rise up and oppose plan by individuals to take over the land.
Amitolu in a recent Facebook post wrote, “Osogbo the only accredited WORLD HERITAGE CENTER in Yoruba Land, the only one in the entire Southern Nigeria ranking as number 2 after Egypt in the whole of Africa recognized by the UNESCO as an ancient town of Osun Sacred place.
“Agbara ojo ko loun onile wo, Onile ni o ni gba fun o”. The intensity of water flows through the drainage is capable of pulling down the house, it’s the owner/landlord that won’t fold his hand.
“The landmass of Osogbo Technical College is enough to accommodate a university Campus.
Private Estate is not what ÒṢOGBO needed on a land that can be good for economic development than a mere personal ESTATE in the name of development that a core Òṣogbo will never benefit from. Òṣogbo please don’t take things for granted.
“It is a clarion call, it was well with us during the reigning of our loyal forefathers !
Osogbo rise up to protect your Heritage,
Osogbo rise up to defend your future,
Osogbo stop folding your arms.
“Òṣogbo Technical College Land is too big to be thrown to dustbin. This is far far beyond politics ! Òṣogbo e dide eeeeeeeee a kii wisibe ka ku sibe e dide. E dakun e dide fun I daabo bo ogun aye raye.”
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