Remain calm and be law-abiding, Oyo residents told

Residents of Oyo town and environs have been advised to remain calm and be law-abiding in the face of the provocation arising from the arbitrary transfer of their lands to other communities in the state under the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), recently created by the Oyo State government.

The Chairman of Oyo Metropolitan Development Association otherwise known as Igbimo Atunluse, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, gave the advice at a recent summit in Oyo.

The meeting which was held at the open square of the  Alaafin’s Palace had in attendance all the Baales from the affected villages apart from members of the Oyomesi-in-Council led by the Basorun, High Chief Ayoola.

Also present were community leaders like a former local government boss, Mr Emmanuel Olaoye and a former member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Segun Taiwo, whose community was also affected by the transfer saga.

The meeting which lasted more than three hours resolved to mandate the affected communities to approach the court on the interpretation of land boundaries under the Second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as it affects local governments as enshrined.

Highlights of the meeting were the presence of placard carrying market women and other artisan groups in solidarity with the Alaafin and the MDA under Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu.

Speaking at the meeting, Olaoye narrated the meeting which the elders held with Governor Ajimobi at the instance of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.

He lamented that in spite of the governor’s assurance to look into their grievances before the final decision was taken on the exercise, that assurance, however, remained unfulfilled by the governor before assenting to the bill.

He, however, assured that the seeming provocation notwithstanding, Oyo will maintain its pacesetter status with regard to the respect for rule of law and its traditional respect for the judiciary.