Ondo youth stage protest over Eba oil well

Youths of Atijere Community, Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State on Thursday staged a peaceful protest over the ongoing boundary dispute between Ondo and Ogun States, concerning the oil well in Eba Island.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that sequel to the Federal Government approval for the drilling of an oil well in Eba Island, Ondo and Ogun States were in dispute over its ownership.

NAN reports that the youths protested in Igbokoda, singing songs and carrying placards with inscriptions like “Eba Island belongs to Atijere in Ondo not Ogun State”; “Ogun State are land grabbers, Eba Island belongs to Ondo’, among others.

Mr Nelson Ololajulo, a youth leader, who spoke with newsmen, said the youths of Atijere community would resist any attempt to cede Eba Island to Ogun.

According to him, Ogun is only laying claim to what does not belong to them, they are land grabbers who will not be allowed to annex our ancestral land.

“The  Federal Government, through the National Boundary Commission, should act fast over the matter,” he said.

Another youth leader, Mr Debo Ikuemola, said Eba Island belonged to the Atijere community in Ilaje, historically and demographically.

According to Ikuemola, Ogun, through Ijebu Waterside, is only laying claim to what does not belong to them.

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“During the colonial era, the Atijere Native Court served many Ilaje communities including Eba Island with Atijere as the administrative head, according to Intelligence Report 1937.

“There are also two polling units located in Eba Island, Basa, Unit 021, and Lugboroko, Unit 024, which are duly classified by Independent National Electoral Commission under Atijere, Mahin Ward four, Ilaje 006, in Ilaje.

“It is crystal clear and indisputable that the oil well located in Eba Island in Ago Balogun/Alaja, a suburb of Atijere kingdom is within Ilaje,” Ikuemelo said.

Also, High Chief Segun Fasuyi, the Baale of Ago Alaja, a surburb located in Eba Island, said the location of the oil well was reserved as a forest, while the forest dues were been paid to Ondo State Government.

“My fore-fathers were installed as Baale’s of Ago Alaja by the ruler of Atijere kingdom, until my turn. We all paid homage to Atijere kingdom, which belongs to Ilaje Local Government Area

“The oil exploration is causing the problem because there has never been any dispute in this area, even from my fore-fathers till date.

“Ondo State Government should resist Ogun State in all forms of laying claims to Eba Island,” Fasuyi said.

Meanwhile, Mr Moris Oripenaye, the Executive Chairman, Ilaje LGA, who spoke to the protesters, appealed for peaceful conduct, saying their protest had been noted.

According to him, the council area is not sleeping over the Eba Island dispute, while the state government is also working tirelessly to ensure that no one takes undue possession of the natural inheritance of Ilaje people.

“I can assure you that the council and the state government are not resting their oars over the issue.

“It is an issue of our collective efforts and as I speak to you, the state government has presented the issue to the Federal Government.

“I appeal to you to be peaceful in all your engagement, but I can assure you that nobody, under any guise, will collect our natural inheritance because Eba Island belongs to the Ilajes in Ondo State,” Oripenaye said.

NAN reports that the Nigeria Police and Amotekun Corps operatives were on standby during the protest to ensure law and order.

NAN