…Assures of peaceful resolution of boundary dispute between Oyo, Osun communities
By Adeyinka Adeniran
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state on Wednesday said the problem of uniting Nigeria is not with the common people, but making of the ruling class.
He accused the ruling class whom he referred to as elites, as been behind the divisions among the people noting that they do so for selfish reasons including: to have upper hand, to attain power, influence or money.
This is as the governor assures of a peaceful resolution to the ongoing boundary dispute between Iwo in Osun State and Lagelu Local Government Area in Oyo State.
Governor Makinde spoke while playing host to the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 11, AIG Fred Ekokotu, who was at the Governor’s Office, Agodi State Secretariat, Ibadan on a courtesy visit.
Welcoming the AIG to the Zone, Makinde commended the Oyo State Police Command and the team, led by CP Johnson Adenola, for maintaining peace across the state.
He said the police remains the lead internal security agency and praised his security team for their effectiveness and efficiency.
Speaking on the boundary crisis, Governor Makinde stressed the historical and cultural ties between Oyo and Osun States, noting that such should not be affected by land disputes.
Corenews reports that the deputy governors of both Oyo and Osun states accompanied by top officials and traditional leaders of both states recently paid an on the spot assessment visit to the affected community.
Both government accused the National Boundary Commission (NBC) of been the cause of the crisis due to their failure to give clear cut dimension and delimination to the boundaries.
The governor who corroborated the earlier view of the AIG on the importance of peace to sustainable progress, lauded the security teams in the state for the jobs they are doing and assures that the state will offer support and collaboration with the Zonal Command of the Police.
Makinde said, “Let me seize this opportunity to thank you and your team for the good work you are doing in Oyo state. In Oyo state, we have a solid team and we will continue to work together. AIG, you are a son of the soil, you are welcome to your state.
“That is one thing about Nigeria. The environment is large enough to accommodate all of us. You came here, did what you had to do, married from here and I went to the oil producing state, looking for oil but I also married from there.
“So, it means our problem of uniting this country is not with the common people, it is with us the elite. We are the ones that will create that division so that we can have the upper hand, either to attain power, influence or money, so we have to keep pushing out that message because this is just our reality.
He added that the situation that the Police operates from is tough in that they have to do so much more than the resources they are provided with, adding that hia government will always provide the needed support and encourage for security to thrive in the state and zone.
Responding to the earlier request for support for the zone, the governor donated two brand new Mitsubishi vans and one kia patrol van.
“As you have rightly mentioned, in an atmosphere of insecurity, there is absolute nothing can be achieved. Security is the foundation for us to be able to put any other thing on it. We will work with you”, the governor added.
Speaking earlier at the Courtesy Room, AIG Ikokotu thanked the governor for his support to the State and Zonal Command at various times which has boosted the effectiveness. He also requested for more of such support, particularly, with his taking over the helms of affairs of the Zonal Command.
He described Oyo state as a peaceful and homely place where both indigenes and non indigenes coexist peacefully and harmoniously, and stressed the need to uphold such virtue to building a progressive society.
In a sideline interview with journalists after the meeting, AIG Ekokotu disclosed that strategic and non-kinetic measures were being deployed to address the border issue.
He said dialogue and stakeholders engagement were central to the peace efforts, especially given the shared history of the two states. He added that discussions with both state governments and community leaders have been ongoing and that another meeting is scheduled before the end of May.
The AIG said, “As I told the governor, this is not about putting strategy in place alone. It is more about consultations with the various communities involved. It is more of dialogue, by using kinetic force, we have had meetings with community leaders from both end since April 2024, when it’s was even more serious.
“We have had meetings with them and we have resolved that every part of the community should maintain peace pending the time the result of findings from the Boundary Commission will be out and we are still on that.
“I have briefed the governors on how far we have gone, as the AIG, so that no state will be indicted. We are still going to have another meeting with the boarder committee slated for 19th – 20th of this month, by now peace has returned to the various communities and they have all agreed to wait for the outcome of findings from the border community.
“Last week, the Deputy Governor of both states resolved also and met on the issues and they have resolved that there will peace. They are the same state, I don’t see the reason why Oyo and Osun should be fighting over border. There is no border. That is why I came, to report to the governor that I have reported for duties. I came to inform the governor of my arrival and presence in the zone.”
