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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 May 2014
One major consequence of the different waves of migrations in Yorubaland up to the nineteenth century was the emergence of settlements in different places and at different times. Some of these settlements were naturally located close to one another, and, as they expanded, they had to struggle among themselves or with their host communities for the control of land and other resources, as well as seek to retain their separate identity. The desire for the control of land, exercise of dominance, as well as for separate identity, with its attendant benefits resulted in mutual distrust and antagonism and, in extreme cases, degenerated into open conflict. The cases of Ife and Modakeke, Oyo and Akinmorin, and Ogbomoso and Orile-Igbon are relevant examples.
The case of Ifon and Ilobu communities is especially peculiar. Different groups migrated into the same region at different times and settled there because of an availability of arable land for agricultural practice, availability of streams and rivers, relatively secured location, and perhaps the discovery of mineral resources like rock salt. Despite the close location of these two communities and the similarity in their customs and language, their relationship has not been cordial. The closeness of these two communities, perhaps a factor in their growth and expansion, resulted in the struggle for the ownership, control, and usage of land. It also resulted in a desire to seek or exercise dominance and separate community identities, with each having recourse to superior historical tradition. These developments have produced mutual distrust and antagonism, resulting in the desire of the communities to seek ways of asserting itself from the grip of domination.
1 The literature on intercommunity conflicts in Nigeria is rich. For instance, see various chapters in Otite, Onigu and Albert, Isaac Olawale, eds., Community Conflicts in Nigeria: Management, Resolution, and Transformation (Ibadan, 1999)Google Scholar.
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8 Ibid.
9 Ibid.
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11 Iba Prof 1/1 770, Proceedings of the Ikirun Native Court on Ifon-Ilobu Boundary Dispute. 14/9/54 and 22/2/55; Report on Land Inspection of Ifon-Ilobu Boundary 30/9/54 and 312/9/54.
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20 Oyo Prof 1/1 1695, Letter from District Officer Osogbo to the Resident Oyo Province on Land Dispute between Ifon and Ilobu, 25/5/24.
21 Ibid.
22 Oyo Prof 1/1 1695; Letter from Resident, Oyo Province to the District Officer, Osogbo. 11/6/24.
23 Iba Prof 1/1 770, Proceedings of the Ikirun Native Court on Ifon-Ilobu Boundary Dispute 22/2/55.
24 Ibid.
25 Ibid.
26 Iba Prof 1/1 169, Proceedings of the Osun Divisional Appeal Court Holden at Ede on Ifon-Ilobu Boundary Dispute, 14 March 1955 and 16 March 1955.
27 Iba Prof. 1/1 780, Proceedings of the District Officer's Court in Osogbo on Ifon-Ilobu Boundary Dispute, 11 May 1955.
28 Iba Prof 1/1 782, Proceedings of the Resident Court in Ibadan on Ifon-Ilobu Boundary Dispute, 22 August 1955.
29 Iba Prof 1/1 787, Proceedings of the Governor's Court in Ibadan on Ifon-Ilobu Boundary Dispute, 8 December 1956.
30 Report of the Inquiry made by E.O. Enahoro on the Interpretation of the Ross Boundary between Ifon and Ilobu 18th November 1980.
31 Osun Div 1/1 1138, Letter from J.S. Ola Efunkunle, Assistant Secretary General, Ilobu Progressive Union, Ibadan, to the District Officer, Osun Division Osogbo, 17 January 1953; Osun Div 1/1 979, Letter from Secretary, Erin Descendant Trading Association, Ibadan Branch to the District Officer, Osogbo, 4 May 1950.
32 Proposals for the Re-organisation of Local Government Councils (Ibadan, 1971), 14Google Scholar.
33 Oyo Prof 1/2813, vol 1, Petition written by five royal families and some interest groups in Ilobu against the recommendation of Salako as the Olobu. 20 April 1940.
34 Oyo Prof 1/2813, vol.1, Petition written by Olufon Bamkesa to the District Officer, Osogbo protesting the appointment of Salako by the Ilobu chiefs, 18 April 1940.
35 Ibid.
36 Oyo Prof. 1/2813, vol.1, Letter written to the District Officer, Ibadan by H.B. Cox, District Officer Ibadan Northern District on the appointment of Olobu of Ilobu, 13 May 1940.
37 Oyo Prof 1/2813, vol 1, Extract from Minutes of the Ibadan Native Administration Inner Council meeting held on Monday, 26 August 1940.
38 Oyo Prof. 1/2813 Vol 1, Notes on Ilobu Chieftaincy prepared by F.M. White, Resident Oyo Province, 14 April 1942.
39 Oyo Prof. 1/2813, vol 1, Extract from Minutes of Ibadan Native Administration Inner Council Meeting held on Monday, 29 July 1940
40 Oyo Prof 1/2813, vol 1, Letter written to the District Officer, Ibadan by H.B. Cox, Assistant District Officer, Ibadan Northern District, Osogbo, on the appointment of Olobu of Ilobu, 12 May 1940.
41 Lloyd, , Yoruba Land Law. 44Google Scholar; Johnson, , History, 41–47Google Scholar.
42 Western State Chieftaincy Declarations, Osun Central Division (Ibadan, 1957)Google Scholar.
43 Oyo Prof. 1/2813, vol 1, Petition written by five royal families and certain interest groups in Ilobu against the recommendation of Salako as the Olobu, 24 April 1940.
44 Oyo Prof 1/2813, vol 1, Report of the Oyerinde Committee on the Ilobu chieftaincy Dispute, 26 December 1941.
45 Oyo Prof 1/2813, vol 1, Letter and notes from H.B. Cox, District Officer, Ibadan Northern District, Osogbo, to the Senior District Officer, Ibadan, on the appointment of Olobu of Ilobu, 24 September 1940.
46 Oyo Prof 1/2813, vol 1, Letter from Olubadan's Office to the Senior District Officer, Ibadan on the appointment of Olobu of Ilobu, 26 August 1940.
47 Oyo Prof 1/2813, vol 1, Letter and notes from H.B. Cox, District Officer, Ibadan Northern District Osogbo, to the Senior District Officer, Ibadan on the appointment of Olobu of Ilobu, 24 September 1940.
48 Oyo Prof. 1/2813, vol.1, Extract from Minutes of Ibadan Native Administration Inner Council meeting held on Monday, 29 July 1940.
49 Oyo Prof 1/2813, vol 1, Extract from Minutes of Ibadan Native Administration Inner Council meeting held on Monday, 12 August 1940; Letter from Olubadan's office to the Senior District Officer, Ibadan on the appointment of Olobu of Ilobu, 26 August 1940.
50 CSO 26/2 12723, vol 14, Annual Report on the Oyo Province (1936) 7.
51 Oyo Prof 1/2813, vol 2, Letter from the Acting Secretary, 16 June 1943.
52 Oyo Prof. 1/2813, vol 2, Extract from minutes of Ibadan Native Administration Inner Council meeting held on 21 June 1943.
53 Osun Div 1/1 438. Letter from Assistant Secretary Ilobu Progressive Union to the District Officer, Osun Division, Osogbo, 17 January 1955; Private papers of Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan, Olobu of Ilobu.
54 Oyo Prof 1/2813, vol 1, Letter from the Senior District Officer to the Senior Resident, Oyo Province, 28 January 1941.
