Adeleke, Makinde meet to resolve boundary disputes between Oyo, Osun

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday met with Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, to resolve the boundary dispute between residents of Oke Oba in Iwo and those of Lagelu Local Government Area in Oyo State.

He added that they also discussed other boundary disputes between the two states.

It will be recalled that the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, had earlier alleged that land grabbers from Lagelu had been attacking people in villages under Iwo, such as Ogunajo, Eleye, Molamu, Paku, Ejemu Oja, Oloya, Arikese, Eleweran, Olofa Ogundiran, and Molafe.

The monarch further urged both governors to consult the official map that demarcated the boundary between the two states in 1991 when Osun was carved out of the old Oyo State.

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However, the spokesperson to Governor Adeleke, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, stated in a statement in Osogbo that the resolution from the meeting included the need for peaceful engagement and the settlement of all outstanding issues.

He disclosed that both governors had directed their deputies to meet with leaders of the Lagelu and Iwo communities involved in the conflict to proffer solutions to the crisis.

Olawale stressed, “The two governors met during the week and resolved to take immediate actions, including a directive to the deputy governors of both states to meet and visit the disputed areas.”

“The deputy governors are also to look into other boundary disputes, such as the recurring one between Orolu Local Government and Ogbomoso areas of the two states.”

“Both governors called for restraint and an end to reported raids into each other’s territories by aggrieved parties, stressing the importance of due process and the rule of law in resolving conflicts,” the statement read in part.

According to him, “The resolution from the meeting included the need for peaceful engagement and the settlement of all outstanding issues.

“The National Boundary Commission had previously visited the disputed areas to collect data from documentary and oral evidence to determine the exact boundary between the two states.”

“The federal agency, however, has not released its report despite several follow-ups by stakeholders, creating a vacuum being exploited by violent groups.”

 

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE