Boundary Dispute: Osun Assembly Sue For Peace Among Ilobu, Ifon Communities

• Yusuf Oketola

The Osun State House of Assembly has called for peace amongst the people of Ilobu and Ifon Orolu Communities over the renew boundary dispute going on in the area.

The Assembly in a statement by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Laide Lawal on Sunday said the Speaker of the House, Hon. Adewale Egbedun has appealed for peace to reign supreme among the people of the two communities.

The Assembly further appealed to the traditional institution in the two ancient towns to calm the situation within the communities that have been living as one family for ages.

They called on the general public to cooperate with the state government in its efforts to pursue communal peace among various people and groups of diverse interests in the state.

“Osun State House of Assembly, under the leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, has appealed for peace to reign supreme amongst the people of Ilobu and Ifon in Irepodun and Orolu Local Government Areas of the state over a boundary dispute.

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“This is as a result of the communal crisis that occurred on Saturday, 16th & 17th September 2023 between the two ancient towns over their claims to the ownership of a piece of land located within the two communities that allegedly led to the lost of a life of an individual according to the Osun State Police Command Press Release, e-signed by its Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, on Saturday, 16th September 2023 on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Patrick Kehinde Longe.

“The Assembly further appeal to the traditional institutions in the two ancient towns especially Kabiyesi Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olaniyan and the Eesa of Ifon-Orolu Kingdom, High Chief Babatunde Oyetunji as well as the leadership of the Ilobu-Asake Development Union (IDU) and Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union (IPU) to calm the situation within the two communities that has been living as one family member for ages.

“The Assembly is using this medium to remind the good people of Ilobu and Ifon and by extension the entire citizenry of the state that the current government of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the people’s Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke is a peace loving Governor and a promoter of peace which is the bedrock of development and progress of any given society.

“The Parliament, therefore is appealing for the cooperation and understanding from the members of the public to join hands with the state Government in its efforts to pursue communal peace among various people and groups of diverse interests in the state saying nothing meaningful can be achieved in a chaos situation.

“The Assembly also admonish various Media Outfits in the state to be partners in progress in the promotion of peaceful society and to stop invitation of people from the concerned communities and any other community in the state for interview or programme on boundary or land issue so as to stop aggravating such issues”, the statement reads .