Discussions over oil exploration in Ogun State took a new turn on Sunday as the Molokun of Atijere Kingdom in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Samuel Adeoye, declared that Eba Island—where oil exploration is proposed—belongs to his kingdom.
The monarch, in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, said the people of Atijere would do everything legitimate to ensure they were not displaced from the site.
Recall that the Ogun State Government had on Thursday issued a statement quoting Governor Dapo Abiodun as saying President Bola Tinubu had approved the commencement of commercial oil drilling operations at Tongeji Island in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state.
However, the Ogun State Government later made a U-turn, clarifying that the approved location was Eba in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, not Tongeji Island.
While residents of Ipokia and Ogun West continued to express displeasure over the development, the Ondo monarch laid claim to Eba Island, insisting that the location where oil was discovered in commercial quantities belongs to the Atijere community in Ondo State.
Earlier, the traditional ruler of Makun Omi in Ogun Waterside, Oba Kazeem Salami, through his spokesman, Gbenga Onayiga, had commended President Tinubu for reportedly approving the commencement of commercial oil exploration on Eba Island.
Salami said the presidential nod would help the community and Ogun State realise their long-standing aspiration of producing crude oil. According to him, commercial oil drilling in Ogun Waterside would ensure inclusivity and empower the people of Makun Omi and neighbouring coastal communities.
Salami assured the government that Makun Omi would provide a peaceful environment for seamless oil production.
However, the Molokun of Atijere disagreed, arguing that documents exist confirming that Eba Island belongs to the Ilajes of Ondo State and not the Ijebus of Ogun Waterside. “From time immemorial, Eba Island has been under the control of Atijere.
“There is a difference between Eba and Eba Island. In fact, the location where this oil is discovered, the village there, and the owners of the village are from Atijere; they reside in Atijere. The Baale (local chief) there was installed by me. This is the third Baale we have there now. The village has been there as far back as 1937. Eba Island has been under the Atijere Native Court Authority.
“Evidence and documentation are there to prove all this, but because the Atijere people don’t have people in the government, nobody is ready to help us. That place doesn’t belong to Makun Omi. In fact, the proximity of Atijere to that place and the proximity of that place to Makun Omi are far different.
“We are much closer to Eba Island. They tried to drive away all our people from that place, but we resisted them; they have not succeeded in doing that. As I am speaking to you, our people are still there doing farming, fishing, and trading. And they have never paid royalty to Makun Omi as far as that place is concerned,” he said.
Oba Adeoye mentioned that he is a friend of the monarch in Makun Omi, saying, however, that Eba Island has remained a source of misunderstanding between the pair.
On the plans of Atijere, when the Ogun State Government made the announcement, Adeoye said the community would protest it.
“We are going to protest. We will take the protest anywhere heavily. We will not allow any exploration to happen there. It’s not possible; we will not allow it because it’s our land. They cannot just drive us away from our land and give it to another person.
“The Federal Government must listen to us. They cannot cede that place to be the Makun Omi community. Makun Omi does not own that place. If the Federal Government wants to do something, it must investigate properly and conduct a thorough investigation to determine the owner of that place. In fact, let me tell you another thing: that very particular oil site falls even inside the Ondo State Forest Reserve,” he disclosed.
The Ondo traditional ruler added that he is a peace-loving person, making efforts to settle boundary disputes that started long ago.
Meanwhile, the monarch urged the Federal Government to make good use of the oil in Tongeji Island before the Republic of Benin takes over the site.
“It is long overdue that the government should have commenced exploration on Tongeji Island because the Republic of Benin is also dragging that place with the Nigerian government. So, it is better for the Government of Nigeria to commence immediate exploration in that area. There are a lot of forces working against us, but the fact remains that I don’t claim what doesn’t belong to me,” he submitted.
Similarly, an indigene of the community, Prince Orimisan Bolaji, clarified that Eba Island is part of the Atijere Kingdom. “Historical records and Ondo State Government documents confirm Eba Island’s affiliation with the Atijere Kingdom. We urge the public to disregard any claims suggesting otherwise.
“Also, we refute Ogun State’s claim to the oil well in Ago Balogun, Eba Island. This is a clear case of territorial overreach. We urge Governor Dapo Abiodun and the people of Ogun State to respect our boundaries. We call on Ondo State and the Federal Government to assert the Atijere Kingdom’s rights and prevent further trespass. Eba Island is part of the Atijere Kingdom, Ondo State, no debate,” Bolaji said.
Ogun govt reacts
Reacting, the Ogun State Government insisted that the said Eba belongs to the Ogun Waterside Local Government.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, said, “What we know is that Eba, the place where oil was discovered in commercial quantity, is in Ogun State, and there have been so many studies even before today. So, any traditional ruler can say anything. But according to the Nigerian map and everything, the area is in the Ogun Waterside Local Government of Ogun State.
“People may agitate because of the new attraction in that environment, but what is sacrosanct is sacrosanct. It is not about an Oba; it’s about the state government. Is the Oba the state? If you are telling me now that the Ondo State Government is contesting, that is a different ball game. Who is Oba?” he said.
Akinmade noted that the exploration is to be done by the Federal Government and not the Ogun State Government.
“The government announced that the president has given the directive, not that Dapo Abiodun gave the directive. And where is oil? Is oil on the concurrent or exclusive list? Oil is on the exclusive list. So, anybody can say anything; it’s the Federal Government that has the legal right to oil. If Ondo were involved, the Federal Government would have invited Ondo.
“But during the discussion, the Ogun government was invited and was given a directive that these people are coming. That’s government to government,” Akinmade reacted.
