- Ifon, Erin-Osun Communities Fume, Describe Action As Disrespectful, Frivolous
The leaders of Ifon and Erin-Osun communities in Osun State have described the withdrawal of Ilobu from the ongoing peace committee set up by the government as disrespectful and frivolous.
Governor Ademola Adeleke had set up a 100-man peace committee to bring lasting peace to the incessant communal clash between the towns which the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun and Justice Moshood Adeigbe co-chair.
However, after three days of sitting, Ilobu through a letter to the Governor withdrew from the process, saying it does not trust the chairman and co-chairman.
The community, in a letter addressed to Governor Ademola Adeleke, signed by the Bara of Ilobu, Chief Ashiru Jimoh, and three others, alleged that some members of the committee had been compromised.
The letter read, “The Chairman, Co-Chairman and a member, namely Special Adviser (Security) of the committee and some other members yet to be identified have, in the course of performing the assignment of the committee, been seriously compromised.
“Our genuine fears and complaints are also borne out of the outbursts of the chairman, co-chairman and counsel representing the Ifon-Osun community in the committee against Chief Adegoke Ogunsola, the counsel that represented the llobu community at the sitting of the committee on 3-1-2025 and the ways and manners the chairman and co-chairman of the committee handled the meeting of the committee that took place on the same date as if the committee is a court of law.
“The outbursts, to say the least, are suggestive of and taken as insults to the Ilobu community. Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor had, deliberately in many fora, before and after the setting up of this committee, propagated lies and some uncomplimentary remarks and cast aspersion about the existence and history of the llobu community, even before the committee commenced its assignment.
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“Consequent to the above, therefore, our client hereby gives notice to Your Excellency of the withdrawal of llobu’s representatives from the committee from 4-1-2025 and subsequent proceedings of the committee, but assure Your Excellency of our client’s readiness to step down their objection and resume participation in the sitting committee when the government of Osun State addresses our complaint as demanded in this letter.”
In a swift reaction, Ifon and Erin-Osun communities in a joint communique on Wednesday evening described Ilobu’s excuse for the withdrawal as frivolous, saying the three communities has access to the members of the committee before inauguration and accepted their membership.
It also described as biased the decision to halt the peace process by the government on the complaints of Ilobu without carrying them along, saying replacing any member of the 25-man panel would not be acceptable to the towns.
It reads partly, “It is rumoured the Government of Osun State has halted the Committee on the alleged call by Ilobu people to object to some of the 25 appointees of the government.
“The people of Ifon or Erin-Osun were neither served a copy of their purported letter to the government, nor invited to comment before the government we hold in high esteem acceded to the frivolous and vexatious complaints / demand of Ilobus.
“We the people of Ifon-Osun and Erin-Osun categorically state that we vehemently oppose the halting of the work of the Committee or the removal of any ofthe 25 members appointed by the Government.
“We enjoin the state government to be decisive and resolute ni following its own rules and regulations. Parties who had objections to any ofthe members appointed by the Governor had the window of opportunities to do so before the 24th of January 2025.
“We insist that no member already accepted by the communities should be removed. Should anyone be removed as demanded by Ilobu people, no replacement will be acceptable to Erin-Osun and Ifon-Osun people”.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
