Ife-Modakeke to Interface on Sustenance of Peace

By Adenitan Akinola

Residents of the ancient city of Ile-Ife have again called for the intervention of the Federal and Osun State Government to ensure the continued maintenance of peaceful coexistence between them and the Modakeke.

The people advocated the deployment of alternative dispute resolution mechanism and the strict adherence of the two communities to the findings of several peace commissions instituted by the government to put an end to the Ife-Modakeke war.

The position of the Ile-Ife people was made public in a twelve page- address read to Journalists by the President of the Great Ife Movement,GIM, Comrade Olufemi Oyeyinka at the Oba Okunade Sijuade Memorial Hall, Enuwa Quarters Ile-Ife.

In the address, the Ife people pointed out that all the issues complained of in the press conference held last year in their memorandum and petition to the Osun State Boundary Commission still persist unabated, despite the invitation by the Commission led by Retired Justice Adekunle Adeigbe.

Parts of the complaints include “unlawful occupation and seizure of farmlands belonging to Ife by the Modakeke, forcefully sending Ife farm owners away from their ancestral farmlands, refusal of Modakeke to pay their tenancy agreements and statutory tributes known as Ishakole to their Ife landlords till date, sending away of Ooni crowned Obas, Baales and Chiefs from their domain after burning and destroying their palaces, especially in Ife North Local Government”.

The Ife people also complained of “Usurpation of Oonis power and Authority on Chieftaincy matters in Ife land by unlawfully appointing their own Baales, especially in Ife North where the Ooni had already installed Obas and Baales” and the use of the Mass media to convey sectional and provocative messages.

Others included the “blotting out of the word ‘Ile-Ife’ on signposts within Ife Metropolitan City with absolute impunity on daily bases” as done on the signpost of Urban Day Grammar School Ile-Ife located at Mayfair Area of the city.

According to Comrade Olufemi Oyeyinka, the Ife people suspected a conspiracy between the Modakeke people and the Electricity Distribution company servicing the area as the bills for some areas within the jurisdiction of Ile-Ife now carry names of Modakeke, including places like Oba Okunade Sijuade Estate on Ondo Road, Lagere and Arubidi.

He maintained that the people of Ile-Ife were peace loving and would continue to live in peace with their Modakeke neighbour, but such must be on the basis of Justice,Equity and fair play.

The people of Modakeke, however, reacted to all the issue raised, saying that they remain committed to peaceful coexistence with Ile-Ife and would not in any way infringe on their rights.

President of Modakeke Progressive Union, Professor Peter Olawuni denied all the allegations raised by the Ifes.

Professor Olawuni explained that Modakeke had not renamed anywhere belonging to Ile-Ife, adding that there should not be a misinterpretation between locational address and postal address.

Professor Olawuni said, “Ifes were the ones driving our people from their farms. We have 256 farms where the Ifes have driven away our people”.

He said steps had been taken between the two communities to make peace as representatives of both parties has already agreed where and when to meet, hence raising allegations through a press conference was unexpected.

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