Sheath Your Swords, Ondo Govt Tells Irele, Ese-Odo Communities

Ondo State Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami, has called on the peoples of Ode-Irele in Irele local government and Igbobini in Ese-Odo local government, both in the southern senatorial district of the state, to cease the conflict over boundary dispute.

The deputy governor, in a statement by his spokesperson to John Paul Akinduro, said the Lucky Aiyedatiwa-led government would not tolerate any act of restiveness and violence between communities or groups.

This is in reaction to a boundary dispute between Ode-Irele in Irele local government and Igbobini in Ese-Odo local government.

Adelami, had on Friday, called the stakeholders for a dispute resolution meeting in Akure, at the behest of the governor, where he directed the two communities to halt the feud and give room for peace.

He said, “No meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of rancour. I must tell you from my experience that communal crisis poses existential danger to collective peace and growth of any society.

“While the state government is finding a lasting solution to this lingering crisis, I have the authority of Mr Governor to direct you to immediately put a stop to this dispute and allow peace to reign.”

Adelami also asked the security agency to release some of the confiscated belongings from parties involved in the crisis, as a first-step measure to resolving the issue.

The state commissioner of police, Abayomi Oladipo, said there was no basis for the crisis to get to this level. While thanking the state government for mediating in the crisis, he assured that the police would do its bit to ensure peace returns to the communities.