Ile-Ife, Osun State – September 16, 2026 – The Ile-Ife community has called on the Osun State Government to urgently intervene in rising tensions with the neighbouring Modakeke community over the purported installation of a traditional ruler in a disputed area and alleged claims of land ownership.
The Great Ife Movement (GIM), speaking on behalf of Ife stakeholders, urged the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to immediately suspend all processes related to the appointment of Aderoju Adewale Onisaka as the Oba of Okuu-Omoni.
Femi Oyeyinka, President of the Great Ife Movement, made the appeal on Wednesday during a press conference titled “Peace and Justice Must Go Pari Passu in Ifeland.” The event was held at the Oba Okunade Sijuwade Memorial Hall, Enuwa, Ile-Ife, and organised in conjunction with Ife intellectuals and other community stakeholders.
Oyeyinka alleged that the process leading to Onisaka’s purported appointment failed to comply with established Ife native law and custom. He claimed the crowning ceremony first took place at the Civic Centre in Modakeke before a later event at the palace in Enuwa, Ile-Ife. According to him, the 16 traditional kingmakers of Ife did not participate in the selection or approval process.
“Onisaka did not subject himself to the Screening Committee on Obaship in Ifeland. Some recently approved traditional rulers had undergone the screening process before their appointments were approved by the Ooni,” Oyeyinka stated. He described the development as unacceptable to the Ife community and demanded its immediate reversal.
The GIM president further alleged that the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Joseph Olubiyi Toriola, and the Modakeke Progressive Union (MPU) played roles in facilitating the purported approval. He insisted that the traditional institution involved lacked the authority to recommend a monarch for an area he said falls within Ife North Local Government Area.
Tensions have also been heightened by leaflets allegedly circulated from Modakeke in August, which the Ife side claims asserted ancestral ownership of certain lands in the contested areas. Oyeyinka expressed concern that these developments could strain the long-standing relationship between the two communities.
He noted that previous recommendations aimed at resolving aspects of the historic Ife-Modakeke dispute, including those from the Olabode George panel, had not been fully implemented since 2000. Oyeyinka also accused some Modakeke residents of restricting access to farms, villages and domains by Ooni-crowned traditional rulers and Ife indigenous landowners, particularly in Ife North Local Government Area.
The Ife-Modakeke conflict is one of Nigeria’s most protracted intra-ethnic disputes, with roots dating back to the 19th century. Major clashes occurred in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s over land ownership, local government autonomy and traditional authority. Although relative peace has prevailed in recent years, with both the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Ogunsua of Modakeke publicly advocating harmony, lingering disputes over land and chieftaincy continue to surface periodically.
Oyeyinka appealed to the Osun State Government, security agencies and relevant authorities to prioritise peace and justice, warning that failure to act promptly could escalate the situation. He stressed the need for strict adherence to due process in traditional appointments and fair resolution of land ownership claims to prevent a return to past hostilities.
As of press time, there was no immediate official response from the Osun State Government, the Ogunsua of Modakeke’s palace or the Modakeke Progressive Union regarding the allegations.
Residents in both communities have expressed hope that the authorities will address the issues through dialogue to preserve the relative calm that has characterised relations in recent years.
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