By OLATUNDE AJAYI

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has inaugurated a five-member committee to proffer solutions to the worrisome issue of land grabbing in Ibadan.

The committee, which is charged with the task of tackling the problems of land grabbing from the legal perspective comprises, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN; Mr Musibau Adetunbi, SAN; Yinka Okunade, Rahman AbdulRaheem and Tunji Thomas.

In a statement issued by his Media aide, Chief Adeola Oloko, on Wednesday in Ibadan, Ladoja said that both the Oyo State Government and the Olubadan-in-Council were on the same page in ridding Ibadan of the menace of land grabbing.

He told the committee to hit the ground running, giving them 21 days within which to make their recommendations.

The Olubadan, however, clarified that the inauguration of the legal advisory committee was meant to strengthen the existing committee on land matters headed by Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori.

Ladoja also gave the committee members to use their discretion to co-opt anybody from any profession to join it in its assignment.

This, he said, could include town planners, surveyors, security agencies, and members of the bar and bench who could assist in giving them strategies to fight the scourge.

According to him, land grabbing is like an interlocking web of complex connections involving diverse interests that need to be unravelled.

“I know each of you very well. While we entertain no illusion as to the gravity of your responsibility, I have no doubt in my mind that you have the capacity to carry out the responsibility,” he said.

In the same vein, the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, corroborated the Olubadan’s position, saying it had become desirable for Ibadan to take stringent action against the menace of land grabbing because it has constantly put our people in harm’s way.

According to him, if it were possible, we should seek the establishment of anti-land grabbing tribunals in all the 11 local govt councils in Ibadanland.

Speaking on behalf of the committee, Akintola expressed the members’ gratitude to Olubadan and Olubadan-in-council for giving them the privilege to serve their fatherland.

He said that their inauguration was a call to service of their fatherland, therefore sought the co-operation and support of the Oyo State Government and Ibadan people in checkmating the menace of land grabbing.

The Olubadan-in-Council meeting presided over by Oba Rashidi Ladoja was attended by Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, Otun Balogun, Oba Kola Adegbola, Otun Olubadan-Designate, Oba Eddy Oyewole, Osi Balogun, Oba Olubunmi Isioye-Dada, Osi Olubadan-Designate, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi.

Others include, Asipa Olubadan-Designate, Oba Hamidu Ajibade, Ekerin Balogun, Oba Akeem Adewoyin, Ekerin Olubadan-Designate, Oba Adebayo Akande.

Also present were Bobajiro of Ibadanland, former Oyo State Head of Service, Chief Tajudeen Aremu and Ajiroba, Prof. Soji Adejumo. (NAN)