By BONIFACE AKARAH

The Osogbo Affairs Forum (OSAF) has dismissed recent territorial claims allegedly made by an Ede chief, describing them as misleading and unsupported by historical evidence.

In a statement released on April 30, 2026, in Osogbo, the group—comprising aboriginal professionals from Osogbo at home and in the diaspora—expressed concern over a widely circulated audio in which the Alabeere of Abeere-Ede reportedly questioned Osogbo’s ownership of key land areas.

The statement, jointly signed by OSAF Steering Committee Chairman Abdulrahman Okunade and Convener Prince Hameed Oyegbade, said the claims suggesting that Abeere and, by extension, Ede control lands hosting major institutions were “historically inaccurate and capable of generating avoidable tension.”

The Institutions listed include the Osun State Government Secretariat, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Television Authority, Independent National Electoral Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service, and National Examinations Council.

OSAF maintained that the land stretch from Ataoja School to the Nigeria Police Force Zone XI Command headquarters falls within Osogbo’s historical territory, citing traditional boundaries, administrative records, and government recognition.

The forum referenced colonial-era documentation, noting that boundary issues between Osogbo and Ede were addressed as far back as 1929. According to the statement, a letter dated September 20, 1929, from the Senior Resident of Oyo Province affirmed Osogbo’s claimed boundary. It added that a follow-up correspondence on November 25, 1929, showed the then Timi of Ede, Oba Adetoyese Laoye I, agreed with that position.

“These records are historically significant because they demonstrate that Osogbo’s territorial claims were formally recognised during the colonial administration,” the statement said.

The group warned against what it described as selective interpretations of history, stressing that partial narratives and viral content could distort public understanding of sensitive issues.

OSAF further expressed concern over recurring attempts to revisit longstanding boundary matters through public commentary, cautioning that such actions could strain relations among communities in Osun State.

It called on traditional rulers, community leaders, and public commentators to exercise restraint and rely on documented evidence when addressing historical disputes.

The forum also urged media practitioners to uphold professional standards by verifying claims before publication to prevent the spread of information capable of inciting unrest.

Reaffirming its stance, OSAF said it remains committed to preserving Osogbo’s historical heritage while promoting peaceful coexistence with neighbouring communities.