The people involved in the crisis between Supare and Oka Akoko communities in Ondo state have been enjoined to sheath their swords and allow peace to reign over land dispute .
The Chairman of the conflict resolution committee set up by the Ondo state government to inquire into the immediate and remote causes of the dispute between the communities with a view to finding a permanent resolution to the matter, Hon. Ade Adeogun a lawmaker representing Akoko south East and south West in the House of Representatives, made this appeal during a stakeholders’ meeting with the people involved in the crisis.
Hon Adeogun who led other members of the committee to meet with representatives of Supare community and farmers from Oka Akoko and other communities involved, at the Obasanjo Multipurpose hall of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko pleaded with the feuding parties to allow peace to reign as there can be no development without peace.
He assured the gathering that the mandate of the committee is to look into the causes of the crisis and find permanent solution that would engender sustainable peaceful coexistence between the communities involved.
Reminding the people that they are brothers and sisters and from Oodua source, Hon. Adeogun stated that it will be a shame if the crisis is not resolved and promised that all interests would be protected.
In their responses, Chief Ojo Festus, a community leader in Supare and the representative of the farmers Mr Olusegun Aboyewa, disclosed that crisis is not between Supare and Oka communities, but between Supare community and the farmers in the area.
While appealing for the committee’s unbiased involvement, they promised their full co-operation in solving the crisis for peace to reign.
Swinging into action, the Committee Chairman led his members and representatives of the farmers and Supare community to the farmlands to inspect and assess the damages allegedly done to farmlands in the course of the conflict.
Hon Adeogun implored the representatives of Supare and the farmers to report back to their other members only the true state of what was seen during the visits, to avoid falsehood, unnecessary tension and further escalation of the conflict.
He promised them that the committee would work towards a quick and amicable resolution of the crisis so that normalcy can return to the area.
He reminded them to prepare and submit their memoranda to the committee on or before 25th April 2021, preparatory to the public hearing slated for Wednesday 28th April 2021.
Other members of the committee are ; His Excellency, Alhaji Ali Olanusi former Deputy Governor, Hon. Kolawole Babatunde, RT. Hon. Victor Olabimtan, Rtd. Gen. J.O. Olorunfemi, Hon. Gbenga Omole, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo, Barr. Felix Alonge, Mr. Clement Dara and Mr. S. A. Adigun the State’s Surveyor General who is the Secretary of the Committee.
