Disturbed by violent attacks and illegal activities of land grabbers in Ogun State, an estate developer, Adewale Osokoya has begun a parley with community leaders and traditionalists to adopt alternative dispute resolution to crises associated with land allocation and speculation.
Osokoya, who is the CEO of Celebrity City Estate, said while meeting the stakeholders in Odogbolu, said the steps taken so far became imperative going by the economic importance of land in the socio-economic growth of any nation.
While narrating a sad personal experience with land grabbers, Osokoya said many lives had been lost and properties destroyed as a result of the activities of land grabbers who daily unleash mayhem on innocent souls.
He said, “we have come to discuss how we can involve our community leaders in ways to resolve disputes arising from land matters through an alternative dispute resolution model.
“This is one of several different processes used to resolve disputes between parties, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, collaborative law, and litigation.”
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He proposed the involvement of community leaders like the monarch, village head, and traditionalists before a prospective land buyer goes into any negotiation with anybody and before buying lands at all.
“If these people are involved, when any issue arise from the transactions, they will be readily available to defend and speak out.”
Speaking on Celebrity City Estate, Osokoya said the estate was aimed at redirecting the aspirations of Nigerian youths by immortalising credible achievers, by naming streets, gardens, parks, and recreation centres after exemplary Nigerians.
“The Estate, covering over 1000 acres within Arepo and Ishawo in Sagamu local government area of Ogun State, has a long list of Nigerian legends, both living and deceased, whose achievements in various fields such as sports, entrepreneurship, education, industrialisation, politics, and security services, among others, are seen as capable of inspiring human capacity development in profitable ventures and redirecting the energies of the youths from criminal activities.
Oba Oludipe, who is also the Obanire of Ijebuland said conflicts arising from matters can effectively be resolved through the help of traditional community leaders, which include kings, Baale, Oloja (Alagemo), Oloritun, family head, family youth leaders and family members
“The issue of land is best resolved by traditional means, thereby creating no cheating. The chiefs know the story of every community. So traditionalists must be carried along”, he said.
