The allegations of harbouring expansionist tendencies by the Ataoja of Osogbo land, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun have been denied.
The Osogbo indigenes under the aegis of Osogbo Action Council, OAC, said this in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Saturday in Osogbo.
Recall that the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba AbdulRasheed Ayorinde Olabomi has alleged that the Ataoja had plans to expand into Iragbiji lands.
Oba Olabomi who revealed that the boundaries between the two towns have been defined since 1905 maintained that the authentic boundary between the two towns is the River Omu.
The Iragbiji monarch had called on President Bola Tinubu, Governor Ademola Adeleke and security agencies to intervene to avert needless communal clash that would not be good for Osun State
In response, the OAC Chairman and Asiwaju of Osogboland, Ajadi Badmus, in the press statement insisted that Osogbo and its people are widely known for peace and good neighbourliness.
Badmus added that the people of Osogbo are not known to be greedy and would never claim what does not belong to them.
“We are a people noted for peace and are very accommodating to others. This is a fact that has always been endearing and attracts many people of different ethnic groups to our town which is ever-welcoming and cosmopolitan in disposition.
“Osogbo has never gone to war with any of our neighbours. And neither shall we do that. In the Ipole-Omu and other areas highlighted by the Aragbiji, the people of Osogbo are not known to be greedy and would never claim what does not belong to them.”
The OAC equally insisted that the Osogbo monarch as the custodian of their culture and history and the face of the town would never go out of his way to make wild claims.
The statement also appealed to the people of Iragbiji and Osogbo to be calm as avenues were being explored to settle the issues.
“Indigenes of both towns are one family, brothers and sisters and mundane things should not be allowed to redefine them.
“Our royal father, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Larooye II, is the number one representative of Osogbo sons and daughters, home and abroad, and has continued to pursue love, peace and unity of all.
“We shall continue to pursue the path of peace and love which will be beneficial to us all as the crisis does no good to anyone,” the statement added.
Expansionists tendency allegations: Osogbo group denies Aragbiji’s claim