Warring factions in oil rich Ugboland in Ilaje local government area of Ondo State have accepted to allow peace to reign after a four-year peace talk.
The peace deal was sealed with the inauguration of a 56-member Ugbo Development Congress (UDC) headed by Mr. Benson Obayelu and the Ugboland Council of Obas as well as Council of Chiefs.
Leaders of Ugboland who spoke at the inauguration ceremony agreed that their age long fracas hindered development in the community despite possessing huge oil and gas deposits.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu who spoke at the event said no meaningful development took place where there is disunity.
The Ondo Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Lucky Aiyetadiwa, predicted that affliction would not arose in Ugboland again as all warring factions agreed to work together.
He, however, identified Ugboland as one of the hotbed for cultism in the state, saying their activities portended danger to development.
His words, “Ugboland is so richly blessed. The people cannot afford not to come together to achieve meaningful development.
“The bringing of traditional rulers together in Ugboland will contribute to ease of administration. We will continue to support you where necessary to ensure th noble move is sustained and improved upon”.
Traditional ruler of Ugboland, the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Fedrick Akinruntan, said the fracas in Ugboland was deeply rooted saying kings were not seeing eyeball to eyeball.
Oba Akinruntan stated that he never believed peace could return to Ugboland during his reign even when the peace moves began four years ago.
“I can sleep well this night. I never expected to see some people here. I never knew they could settle this dispute.”
Chairman of the UDC inauguration committee, Chief Olusola Oke, said peace has returned to Ugboland.
He said the UDC would serve as a voice for Ugboland and ensured all things due it are delivered.
UGBO-LAND, THE GOLDEN EGGS OF ONDO SAYS GOV AKEREDOLU.
“Ugbo-Land, no doubt is a pride of Ondo State, not only because some of the prominent achievers of the State hail from the land, but for the fact that the reason the State is an Oil Producing State today is because the communities within Ugbo-Land are blessed with Oil and Gas resources which incidentally is the major contributor ( about 80% ) to Nigeria’s revenue” .
These are the words of Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN at the inuaguration of Ugbo-Land Development Congress and Ugbo-Land Traditional Rulers Council, at Ugbo in Ilaje Local Government, Ondo State on Saturday.
Represented by his Deputy, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Governor commended them for the novel in bringing Traditional Rulers in Ugbo-Land together.
“As Government, while we commend you all for this, we will continue to engage with you and support you where necessary to ensure the set objectives of these ideas are sustained and improve upon where necessary” , declared the Governor.
Governor Akeredolu equally harped on the need for collaboration between security agencies and Traditional Rulers for the safety of all.
The Governor condemned in strongest term the upsurge of cultists activities and others social vices in Ilaje Local Government as he implored on parents for proper training of their children.
“In this State, the issue of security is paramount… with existing cooperation of all security agencies and effective collaboration with our Security architecture — AMOTEKUN, I believe we are doing well” .
Ilaje is one of the hotbed Local Government in terms of cultist activities and this portends danger for us all” , he said.
“I implore parents and all of us to speak to our children and advise those that engage in the act to desist because, when the law catches up with them, it will be unpleasant” , he warned.
In attendance for the event includes His Imperial Majesty, Oba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan, OON, Okoro Ajiga 1, the Olugbo of Ugbo-Land, His Royal Majesties, Oba Andrew Ikuesan, the Olubo of Obe-Nla Kingdom, Oba Elias Ikuomola, the Alaho of Odo-Nla, Oba Obafemi Ogbaro, Odoka of Obe-Ogbaro and other chiefs of Ugbo-Land.
The Ugboland Development Congress leadership at the event include the chairman of the BOT, Asiwaju Oluyemi Ogunyomi, former Clerk of the National Assembly, Interim Chairman of UDC, Mr. Benson Obayelu, former Director of NDDC, Chairman of the inauguration Committee, Chief Olusola Oke SAN, the Secretary, Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson and other prominent members of the association.
