A socio-political group in Ondo state, Center for Peace and Harmony (CPH), has appealed to the political players and residents of the Ore community in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state to give peace a chance, irrespective of their differences over the appointment of Caretaker Chairman for the newly created Odigbo Odigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
The group appeal was contained in a statement signed by the group’s coordinator, Mr Adefesoye Afolabi, who called for a ceasefire between the indigenes and non-indigenes over local government leadership, calling them to desist from making utterances that could plunge the peaceful community into unnecessary crisis.
Afolabi frowned over sponsored protests by some political players, warning against anarchy in Ore and its environment, appealing to political groups to shun acts capable of plunging the state into avoidable crisis and, above all, live in oneness irrespective of the tribe or political affiliation.
Afolabi, who is a major stakeholder in Odigbo local government, insisted that learning to resolve disputes without aggression is a great way to enjoy peace, adding that there is no alternative to a peaceful atmosphere.
According to him, an investigation by the group exonerated and absolved the wife of Ondo state Governor, Mrs.Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, of the alleged imposition and appointment of a non-indigene as the Caretaker Chairman of the newly created Odigbo Odigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
The statement read: “It is pertinent to express our worries about the current happenings in Odigbo local government area of Ondo state, in an attempt by some people who are hiding under a political umbrella to cause chaos as the council and LCDA elections draw near.
“We equally warned those who are behind this political shenanigans to desist from name-dropping of Ondo state First Lady, Arabinrin Betty Akeredolu, who is far away in Germany taking care of her husband, whom we believe is fast recuperating.
“Involving the name of the first lady in a matter that is not known to her is wicked and highly unacceptable, it only tells about the popularity of the woman those political business-men are trying to victimise”
The group described the attack on the councillor representing Ore ward, Eucharia Nwamara, as highly unfair and bad politics taken too far.
The group noted that the Nwamara has lived in peace and contributed to the development of the community for over 30 years, responsible for her being elected as the Councilor representing Ore ward presently.
The group appealed to all sides to table their grievances in a civil way, saying peace remains the only prerequisite for any meaningful development, without which the much-needed quest for any society’s social, economic, and political development would continue to elude.
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