In a bid to resolve the protracted land crisis between Otun and Aaye -Oja Ekiti, Moba Local Government area of Ekiti State, the two communities have consented to the government’s peace initiative, for the raging matter to be nipped in the bud.
The monarchs of the two communities, the Oore of Otun, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo and the Alaaye of Aaye- Oja, Oba Ayanniyi Olatoye, yesterday, consented to peace pact, expressing readiness to cooperate with the Technical Committee composed by government to mediate in the matter.
The monarchs spoke at a parley convened by the office of the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, on Thursday, during a truce meeting on the dragging land tussle between the two towns.
A statement by the Deputy Governor’s Media Aide, Victor Ogunje, stated that the traditional rulers in their separate responses, said their communities had long been great allies, and that the crisis won’t be allowed to trigger friction or bloodshed between them.
The monarchs promised to embrace any position taken by government on the encumbered parcel of land, saying peace is paramount to them for development to be attainable in the two towns.
Mrs Afuye, while addressing the representatives of the communities, regretted how the towns, who were peaceful neighbours, had jettisoned the recommendations made by the Moba Council of Traditional Rulers on the matter.
She said: “Even efforts made by State Government’s Technical Committee to resolve the crisis were futile. We have always been successful in all our peace making mission. I want you to imbibe the spirit of give and take, if you can do this, our Committee will be able to resolve this easily.
“Our governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji wants all the towns in Ekiti to be in peace. We don’t want thuggery. The committee will come to visit you, pending that time, I want you to go and remove all those that are farming on the disputed land, so that our officials can be safe to do their jobs”.
On the crisis being allegedly caused by the youths in the two towns, Mrs Afuye, told the monarchs to warn their youths against formeting trouble that could make the crisis fester into a full scale war.
Meanwhile, while interfacing with the representatives of Ilawe-Ekiti and Odo community over land crisis, Mrs Afuye, promised that all the documents tendered will be forwarded to the offices of the Attorney General and Surveyor-General for interpretation and recommendations .
The Deputy Governor said; “Give us just a month, we will come up with our recommendations that will be fair and just. We don’t have any interest in this matter. Let us finish with our investigations. I am hopeful that our findings will lay this matter to rest”.