Following the hard stance of Oba Olusegun Alexander MacGregor against illegal sales of hectares of lands in some villages within Ilawo territory, the Olu of Ilawo, Oba MacGregor has reclaimed some of the lands illegally sold by the speculators.
The affected villages are, Abule Akia, Abule Oso, Abule Ola, and Shoremekun.
It could be recalled that some former Chiefs of Ilawo which include Oluwole Dosunmu, Banji Olaogun and Adisa Elépà, allegedly sold some of the lands without the consent of Oba MacGregor.
It was gathered that the matter is currently under investigation by the Area Command, Adatan Abeokuta, following a series of petitions submitted by the affected communities to the HRM and the Area Command.¹
The recovery of the villages is seen as a significant victory for the communities, who had been struggling to reclaim their ancestral lands. The Olu of Ilawo’s decision is also expected to boost the morale of the villagers and restore peace to the kingdom.
It’s worth noting that the Olu of Ilawo had earlier sacked ten chiefs, including the three detained, for allegedly selling community lands without his consent. The monarch has been at the center of a controversy surrounding the sale of lands in the kingdom, and his decision to recover the five villages is seen as a major step towards resolving the land dispute.
The people of Ilawo kingdom have expressed their gratitude to the Olu of Ilawo for his decision, saying it is a welcome development that will bring peace and prosperity to the kingdom. They also thanked the state government for the introduction and implementation of the land use charge law, which they believe has helped to curb the illegal sales of lands in the kingdom.
