……Says Ogun Cannot Decide Oil Well Ownership
Oba Adeoye Samuel, the Malokun of Atijere Kingdom in Ondo State Ilaje Local Government Area, has declared Eba Island an Ondo territory, warning that the community may stage protests if it continues to be excluded from activities surrounding the oil well in the area.
Speaking during a press conference in Atijere community, the monarch accused stakeholders involved in the oil exploration project of sidelining Atijere Kingdom despite its proximity to the oil well and its historical ties to the disputed territory.
Oba Adeoye argued that the controversy surrounding Eba Island only emerged after the discovery of crude oil in the area, noting that the island had existed for decades as part of the Ondo State forest reserve without any ownership dispute.
According to him, communities such as Agualaja and Agobalogun, located close to the oil facility, fall under Atijere Kingdom and have occupied the area for generations.
“What we want is that our rights should be given to us. We must be considered as part of the oil-producing community. If they want to do anything there, they must come to Atijere and discuss with us,” the monarch said.
He alleged that representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and contractors had been engaging other communities, including Makomi, while excluding Atijere from discussions concerning the project.
The traditional ruler maintained that the National Boundary Commission (NBC) was aware of the dispute but had yet to make a final determination on the ownership of the territory, stressing that no state should unilaterally claim the area pending the commission’s decision.
“It is the duty of the National Boundary Commission to determine the boundary between two states. It is not the duty of Ogun State to determine the boundary. As long as there is a dispute, no state can lay claim to that place for now,” he stated.
Oba Adeoye also faulted recent claims by the Ogun State Government regarding the oil discovery, urging political leaders not to politicise the issue or make pronouncements capable of escalating tensions between the neighbouring states.
“I want to advise the Ogun State Government not to heat up the polity and not to politicise that place. Nobody has given that place to Ogun State. The boundary commission is the appropriate authority to determine ownership,” he added.
The monarch further claimed that surveys and other preliminary activities were already ongoing on the island, warning prospective investors against purchasing land in the disputed area without involving Atijere and other affected communities.
He called on the Federal Government, NNPC and project contractors to engage all the contending kingdoms, including Atijere, Makomi, Ode-Omi and Urukun, to ensure peace and prevent future disputes.
Oba Adeoye said while Atijere remained committed to supporting development and oil exploration in the area, the community would not allow its rights to be undermined, warning that residents could mobilise for peaceful protests if their concerns continued to be ignored.
“We have the right to protest. We have the capacity to protest. As a community, we will continue to press for our rights and ensure that we are carried along in whatever is done on that land,” he said.