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Yoruba Union Urges Governor Makinde To Caution Olugbon Over Alleged Harassment Of LAUTECH Graduate
Yoruba culture is built on integrity, fairness, and justice. It is disheartening to see a custodian of our heritage using his position and security operatives to oppress a citizen
Ikeja, Lagos State– The Yoruba Union socio-cultural group, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has called on Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene in a growing dispute involving the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, who has been accused of allegedly using the Nigeria Police to harass and intimidate a law-abiding citizen over a landed property.
According to the group, the victim, identified as Oyediran Taiwo David, a graduate of Chemical Engineering from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), legally purchased the land in 2006 for ₦3 million from the then Olugbon of Orile Igbon for farming and paint production purposes.
However, the group alleged that Oba Alao has, in recent years, persistently used his position, political influence, and security operatives to harass and intimidate David despite the legitimacy of the transaction.
In a statement released on Sunday, signed by the group’s Convener, Olusola Badero, and Home Director, Princess Balogun, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá accused Oba Alao of betraying the sacred trust of Yoruba traditional leadership by allegedly unleashing thugs and law enforcement agents on David, who they said has been assaulted on multiple occasions.
The statement claimed that thugs acting on the monarch’s instructions attacked David with guns and inflicted injuries on his head, right eye, back, and legs.
“Yoruba culture is built on integrity, fairness, and justice. It is disheartening to see a custodian of our heritage using his position and security operatives to oppress a citizen who has invested in the community and created jobs for its people,” the group said.
The union further expressed outrage over what it described as the misuse of police power, stating that the Nigeria Police Force must stop allowing itself to be used by influential individuals to settle personal scores.
“We will not fold our arms while our people are humiliated and dehumanised by those meant to protect them. Governor Makinde must launch a thorough investigation into this matter, and anyone found guilty must be held accountable,” the statement added.
Oba Alao has reportedly denied knowing David and maintained that any dispute over the land is a civil matter that should be resolved in court.
However, the Yoruba Union questioned why the monarch allegedly continued using security operatives to intimidate David if he had no personal involvement, accusing him of being “power drunk” and acting as though his position was above the law.
The group noted to escalate the matter beyond state authorities if the harassment persisted, vowing to petition the Oyo State House of Assembly, the National Human Rights Commission, and foreign embassies, including those of the UK, US, Canada, the EU, and the United Nations, to impose visa restrictions on individuals abusing their powers.
“The mission of Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá is to defend the dignity and rights of the Yoruba people at all levels. We will not tolerate anyone, no matter how highly placed, using power or influence to dispossess citizens of their property or intimidate them into silence,” the group stressed.
The organisation also urged traditional rulers across Yorubaland to uphold the values of justice and fairness in their domains, warning that public confidence in traditional institutions could erode if rulers were seen as instruments of oppression rather than custodians of culture and morality.
The union also called on the Nigeria Police to stop allowing themselves to be used by powerful individuals to intimidate ordinary citizens, urging the force to redeem its image before the international community, which already perceives it negatively due to such incidents.
