AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF OSUN STATE ON THE OCCASION OF THE INAUGURATION OF AN ENLARGED LAND CRISIS RESOLUTION COMMITTEE ON IFON- ILOBU BOUNDARY CRISIS

Protocols

It is with a heavy heart that I address you all today on the Ifon -Ilobu crisis. I am really sad that all efforts so far to permanently resolve the feud has not yielded deduced results.

I am shocked that stakeholders in the crisis have forgotten that peace has always been among humanity’s highest values. We all know that peace is not just the absence of conflicts but the state of actively working together for progress and development.

Our government is deeply concerned about the incessant disputes among the communities of Ifon and Ilobu. In view of recent developments and in a bid to prevent further escalation, our administration has initiated a process that will guarantee a lasting peace in the affected communities.

The new initiative has external leaders as part of the conflict resolution team. The goal is to once and for all mediate and finally put an end to the crisis.

The administration frowns at any attempt to politicise the crisis. We particularly warn those masquerading under communal struggle for political agenda to stay away from the issue. We will no longer tolerate playing politics with the lives of our people.

It is in realisation of the urgency of the matter that I set up this enlarged land crisis resolution committee on the Ifon- Ilobu boundary crisis. Erin Osun has also been added to the enlarged committee.

Each of the affected communities has twenty-five representatives each, while the State Government will also be represented by twenty – five members. The Ataoja of Osogbo land, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, Larooye II, and a retired judge and Chairman, Osun State boundary commission, Justice Moshood Adekunle Adeigbe, will serve as the Chairman and Co – Chairman of the committee respectively.

Four other revered traditional rulers, as well as other individuals chosen by the government, will serve as members of the committee.

This committee is given two weeks to carry out its findings and submit the reports to the Osun State Government.

At this juncture, you are enjoined as members of this committee to deploy your wealth of experience to bear on this critical assignment. You need to bear in mind that peace is essential in any society for social harmony, security, and economic stability.

I hereby declare this committee inaugurated.

I thank you for listening.