From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Traditional rulers in the warring Osun communities of Ifon-Osun, Erin-Osun and Ilobu, have met with the panel to resolve the incessant communal clashes in the neighbouring communities.
The 100 man peace committee set up by Governor Ademola Adeleke, chaired by the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun and Co-chaired by a renowned Human Rights Activist, Waheed Lawal along with four other traditional rulers in the state met the affected monarchs in the state capital on Thursday.
The violent clashes among the communities had led to destruction of lives and properties while curfew had been imposed on the communities about eight times in the last two years.
To the surprise of the panel, the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Peter Akinyooye, the Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olaniyan and the Elerinof Erin-Osun, Oba Yusuf Omoloye, appeared before the panel for the first time since the inception of the committee and agreed to cooperate with the government.
The monarchs reportedly pledged Thier support to the resolution move of the government with a view to end the incessant boundary dispute.
When contacted, the Co-Chairman, Comrade Waheed Lawal disclosed that the committee in its effort to ensure lasting solution have heard the grievances of the indigenes of the three towns and also visited the buffer zones that is creating the crisis.
According to him, the committee, like it was, is not just sitting to listen to grievances. We have visited the disputed areas and also collected the written submissions from the towns, which was adopted by their representatives.
“We have also met with the traditional rulers from the communities but the details of our meeting would be made public later during the submission of our report to government which will be very soon. We are hopeful that this step would ensure lasting solution to the persistent crisis in the areas”.
As the Osun State Government peace committee stepped up effort to resolve the incessant communal clashes between the three neighbouring communities of Ifon, Ilobu and Erin-Osun over land dispute, the monarchs from the towns have met with the panel in a bid to get lasting solution to the violent clashes.
The three communities located in Orolu and Irepodun local government areas of the state have been at loggerhead over boundary dispute resulting into incessant crisis usually accompanied with lost of lives and properties.
The State Governor, Ademola Adeleke had in the last two years declared curfew in the towns eight times with a view to stopping escalation of violent crisis but did not yield positive results.