Taluko Chieftaincy Tussle: Wajoba Family Warns Oba Ajibola Talabi Odugbesan Against Appointing Baale Outside Onibeju’s Authority
The Wajoba family of Ibeju has issued a firm warning to alleged trespassers, insisting that the land falls strictly under the jurisdiction of the Onibeju of Ibeju and not the Oba of Debojo.
The Wajoba family has laid claim to the historical ownership of Taluko land, tracing its origin to Prince Wajoba Osagaramuda of Ibeju, a descendant of the royal lineage. According to the family’s account, the land was inherited from their forefathers and shared among siblings, including Prince Oniwonlu, thereby establishing long-standing boundary alignments within the area.
Historical records presented by the family indicate that Prince Wajoba allocated the Taluko portion of the land to his second daughter, Princess Kehinde Hassanat, who later married Mr. Giwa Alimi of the Otunba royal family in Debojo. The couple, both farmers, reportedly cultivated and occupied the land extensively.
The name “Taluko” itself, the family explained, was coined by Mr. Alimi, referencing the abundance of Aluko birds found in the area. Over time, the land became associated with farming activities led by the family, with hired labourers temporarily residing in makeshift huts while working on the farmland.
Further detailing the historical structure of the land, the family identified its boundaries as follows: Ajegbewa village to the North, Baba Ijebu Elefon to the East, Poruku to the South, and the Oniwonlu family land to the West.
They maintained that Mr. Alimi, his wife, and their five children were the only original settlers of Taluko, stressing that labourers engaged on the land never established permanent residency.
However, the family expressed concern over what it described as an attempt by the Oba of Debojo, Oba Ajibola Talabi Odugbesan, to assert authority over the area, including moves to appoint a Baale (village head).
Rejecting this claim, the family declared that Taluko land does not fall under Debojo jurisdiction but remains under the traditional authority of the Onibeju of Ibeju, Oba Waliu Olasunkanmi.
In a strongly worded statement, the family warned against any form of encroachment or administrative interference, cautioning that such actions could trigger unrest in the community.
They called on the Lagos State Government, particularly the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, to urgently intervene and clarify jurisdictional boundaries to prevent escalation of the dispute.
The situation, observers say, underscores the growing sensitivity around land ownership and traditional authority in rapidly developing areas of Ibeju-Lekki.
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