*RE- HOW ERIN ILE PEOPLE GOT THEIR LAND BY ALAFIN OYO*

This writer has a malicious intention that does not deserve any response. But to set the record straight and to guide the public from the deliberate and misleading attempt of the write up, this few piece became pertinent.

It is true that Alafin Oyo was one of the many witnesses called during the Daramola Commission of 1970 at the instance of Offa Community. His oral witness was part of many information collated from both Erin ile and Offa communities. The two communities showcased their boundary evidences, the Dr. Daramola led commission did a very elaborate job, thorough investigations were carried out on the Land, the people representing both communities presented their facts and documents evidence, including calling of witnesses, among other factors.

After the two communities presented their facts, the commission unanimously Sited the Boundary Demarcation between Erin ile and Offa at the old NEPA area after seven months assignment.

The decision of commission was however challenged by Offa at Nigeria Courts of law, all these happened in early seventies (1970-1973). From High Court to Appeal Court, then to The Supreme Court of Nigeria,. A Judgement was given in favoured of Daramola Commission and thus settled the Boundary Demarcation between Erin ile and Offa at Step down of 33KVA, NEPA area.

This crises is a well documented one in the sense that it was mentioned in the Kwara state Gazette and Edict of 1970, and has went as far as the supreme court for adjudication since about five (5) decades ago.

In fact the supreme court have heard and ruled on the matter as far back as 10/12/1973 (Supreme Court Ruling attached)

SUPREME COURT DOCUMENT

CHIEF ADEMOLA OGUNNIYI & Anor. v. DR. FUNSHO ADARAMOLA & Anor.
CITATION: (1973) LPELR-SC.171/1973

OTHER CITATIONS:
1 (1973) All N.L.R 900
2 (1973) 12 S.C. 47

In The Supreme Court of Nigeria
On Monday, the 10th day of December, 1973
Suit No: SC.171/1973

Before Their Lordships

TASLIM OLAWALE ELIAS ……. Justice of the Supreme Court
UDO UDOMA ……. Justice of the Supreme Court
GEORGE SODEINDE SOWEMIMO ……. Justice of the Supreme Court

Between
1.CHIEF ADEMOLA OGUNNIYI
2. MR. AMUSA OKENIYI ALAWODE Appellants

And

1. DR. FUNSHO ADARAMOLA
2. SUMONU AROYEWUN Respondents

T. O. ELIAS, C.J.N. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This appeal is against the ruling of the High Court of Kwara State holden at Borin in which an application for an order of certiorari was refused.

The matter originated in this way in so far as can be gathered from the proceedings. There occurred a boundary dispute between Offa and Erinle communities in Oyun Division of Kwara State. In exercise of the powers conferred upon him under sections 3 and 5 of the Local Boundaries Settlement Edict No.9 of 1970, His Excellency, the Military Governor appointed Dr. Funsho Daramola as “Boundary Settlement Commissioner” and ordered him to enquire into and determine the boundaries between the two communities. Under section 6 of the said Edict, Mr. Ayo Jonathan, State Counsel, and Mr. A. A. Rotimi, Senior Surveyor, were also appointed as Secretary and Surveyor respectively “to assist the Commissioner who will enquire into and determine the boundaries” between the two communities. These two sets of appointment were published in the Kwara Gazette Notices Nos. 195 and 196 of 29th July.

ISSUES THAT LED TO DARAMOLA PANEL

*Prior* to 1907, Erin ile and Offa were living together cordially and peacefully without any rancour, suspensions, fears, threats, oppression, suppression and intimidation. By the year 1907, when Ilorin Provincial Administration posted an Assistant District Officer(A.D. O.) for the purpose of easy administration of the Province to Offa. The then Ololfa of Offa, Oba Ariwajoye 1, (the grand Father of the immediate past Olofa), deluded himself into belief that the posting of A.D.O conferred on him with authority over the surrounding communities lands. This marked the beginning of the animosity and crises between Erin ile and Offa.
The erroneous impression was challenged by Erin ile and the Administrative Office in Ilorin promptly corrected that, hence, Olofa felt slighted and the animosity in area began.
Erin ile in her love for peace appealed to the Ilorin Provincial Administration for settlement, this resulted in an intensive inquiry into the origins and ages of the two communities.

*The findings revealed that Erin ile is older than Offa, to which she had never been under Offa or subservient to Offa.*

See
(a) DIVISIONAL REPORT 1935 and
(b) NIGERIA GAZETTE EXTRA-ORDINARY NO 46, VOL...39 OF 3rd September, 1952, page 966.

See further GAZETTE OF ILORIN PROVINCE 1929, BY HON. NERMAN HODGE, page 97-98 to confirm that the first Olofa of Offa, OBA OLUWOLE WAS A GUEST AND TENANT OF ELERIN WHO GAME HIM REFUGE FROM MAJIYA, THE NUPE WARRIORS.

Between 1954 - 1956 LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORMS, THE ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATION OF ERIN ILE FROM BASED ON REPORTS ABOVE AND PARTICULARLY, THE 1940s by RESIDENT OF ILORIN ( MACHINE) CONFIRMED AND REINFORCE 1935 REPORTS.
HENCE, ODO-OGUN DISTRICT WAS CREATED WITH ERIN ILE AS THE HEADQUARTERS IN 1956. This was a cause for further animosity from Offa against Erin ile. Offa was thus further prevented from encroachment on Erin ile land.

In 1964 however, Offa's ambition to suppress and overshadow every communities in the area came to me fore again, Erin ile outcry attracted the attention of the Ilorin Native Authority which set up BABA KOBI'S PANEL, the panel report was VINDICTIVE OF ERIN ILE BUT BECAME AS MUCH UNPALATABLE TO OFFA, FOR NO JUST REASON.

The major crises came up in 1969 when the then Olofa instigated one ADEMOLA OGUNNIYI to challenge Erin ile for building a Secondary School on her ( Erin ile) land.
As at that time, the only Secondary school in the area is Offa Grammar School. Hence, Offa community was not happy at Erin ile desire to have her own Secondary school. Erin ile community was not only eager but determined and anxious of completing her own school to take care of many of her children that sought admission to Offa Grammar School, that were denied, despite meeting all the entry requirements. This happened in the late sixties, their denial of admission was purely sentimental (they are from Erin ile who do not accept Offa as Superior).
Erin ile community of peace loving people appealed to the New Kwara State government to appeal to Offa for out of Court settlement so that the court process will not affect the School development.
As a result, the government constitute COMMISSIONER OGBEHA PANEL. The prominent member of the both community was in attendance at the panel. The apparent success of the panel was abruptly aborted by Offa people who angrily declared that an out of Court Settlement was unacceptable to them.
The case was eventually adjudicated on by Upper Area Court Ilorin, which gave judgment on the case in favour of Erin ile in August 1970.
Offa appealed to an appellant Court of Ilorin High court which also ruled on the case in favour of Erin ile in 1971.

The peaceful nature of Erin ile, in appreciation of the need for peaceful coexistence with all her neighbours, Erin ile still sought for peace with Offa through amicable settlement on the matter, despite the favourable court judgement. In the process at one of the meetings meant for settlement purpose, Elerin of Erin ile and Olofa of Offa and prominent son each from the both communities met with the State Government Representatives. Right there, the then Olofa announced that his Chiefs rejected such move. He thereupon appealed to the State government for the settlement of the dispute by the Constitution of a Boundary Settlement Commission.

On 7/7/1971, *Kwara State Government then set up am Administrative Panel* for Boundary Settlement between Erin ile and Offa at the insistence of Offa. The Panel was headed by DR ADARAMOLA, who later became Professor Emeritus in life. Dr. Adaramola was not only very close to the Offa then, but lived and had his preliminary education in Offa. The Panel was famously know , called and referred to as ADARAMOLA PANEL OR COMMISSION.

ADARAMOLA PANEL after the inquiry and detailed job for seven months of elaborate and meticulous findings came out with a comprehensive report that did not only gave verdict in favour of Erin ile, but indeed established the traditional boundary between Erin ile and Offa and sited the Boundary demarcation at the stand of 33KVA GHT step down transformer of the defunct Electricity Corporation of. Nigeria later called, National Electricity Power Authority (NEPA) and now Power Holding Company of Nigeria PHCN.
See COMMISSIONER'S FINDINGS IN BOUNDARY DISPUTE BETWEEN ERIN ILE AND OFFA COMMUNITIES IN THE OYUN DIVISION OF KWARA STATE.

There were several attempts by Offa community to use influence and connection with different state Governments to subdue the facts.
The claim by Offa that Col Ibrahim Taiwo, and Col P.A.M. Oga administration made attempts to adjust the Boundary demarcation between the two communities does not and can never hold water. There is no where a dictation from state government can supersede THE SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT.
The thought of using undue influences to suppress and oppress Erin ile was the only thing Offa community employed.

After several onslaughts and unexpected attacks on Erin ile, the State Government in 2013 made another attempt to address the boundary adjustment between Offa and Erin ile and built a road called UNITY ROAD TO SERVE AS BOUNDARY BETWEEN ERIN ILE AND OFFA.

While the State Government and some concern people were thinking of how to appeal to Erin ile to please accept the UNITY ROAD AS BOUNDARY, Offa Community again went straight to High Court, challenging the State government decision to use Unity Road as boundary. Erin ile community joined in the suit and the case was settled at High court, Appeal Court and also Supreme Court in favour of old boundary at NEPA area Offa, now directly opposite ODU House.

It is crystal clear that the only legitimate Boundary between Offa and Erin ile is the one recognized by the Supreme Court of Federal Republic of Nigeria. The highest authority in the country.

It was clearly stated in the Supreme court judgment of of December, 1973 and that of December, 2018 that the Lawful and legal boundary between Erin ile and Offa is at NEPA.

So the crooked story claiming what Alafin Oyo said is untenable. The above is the commission the said Alafin evidence was taken.

ERIN ILE IS AN ANCIENT TOWN THAT SHARES BOUNDARIES WITH SOME ANCIENT TOWNS IN KWARA AND AT THE BOARDER OF THE NORTHERN NIGERIA AND THE SOUTHERN PART WHERE IT SHARES BOUNDARIES AND HAPPY AND PEACEFUL COEXISTING WITH ILA-ORAGUN, OYAN, ILA ODO AND IGBAYE, ALL IN OSUN STATE.

Erin ile has her direct linage from ILE IFE, THE OBALUFAN/ALAIYEMIORE DYNASTY.

The truth is clear,
It's left to the government to do the needy.