Land Disputes: We Can’t Afford Bloodshed with Ondo, Osun, Says Ekiti

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

The Ekiti State Government has again warned residents of border towns in the state to sustain the spirit of peace and brotherhood with their neighbours, saying the state cannot afford to engage in any volatile land dispute and bloodshed with their sister states.

The state Deputy Governor, Mrs. Monisade Afuye, gave the warning in Ado Ekiti yesterday during an interface with selected traditional rulers in Ekiti Southsenatorial district, whose towns share inter-state boundaries with Ondo and Osun States.

The parley convened by the Ekiti State Land Dispute Resolution Technical Committee was attended by representatives of Iro-Ayeteju, Egbe, Ogotun, Isinbode, Ahan- Ayegunle, Ikere, Ise, Orun, and Emure across Ekiti East, Ayekire, Emure, Ise/Orun, Ikere and Ekiti Southwest Local Government Areas of Ekiti State.

Addressing the community leaders, Mrs. Afuye, represented by the Permanent Secretary in her office, Mr. Abayomi Opeyemi, reiterated that Ekiti State can’t afford crisis with its sister states of Ondo and Osun, saying all the contending land issues raised by the monarchs will be zealously handled for peace to reign.

Afuye in a statement issued by her Media Assistant, Victor Ogunje, said based on the aggregate of presentations, the areas of disputes are chiefly in Ahan-Ayegunle Ekiti-Oge Akoko, Isinbode Ekiti-Irun Akoko, Egbe Ekiti-Irun Akoko, Imesi Ekiti-Irun Akoko, Emure Ekiti-Supare Akoko, Ikere Ekiti-Iju, and Ogotun Ekiti-Ikeji/Ikeji Ile.

She urged the monarchs to continually fostering strong and peaceful relationships with their neighbours, describing the meeting as the best way to avert insurrection and killings of people at the hinterland.

Afuye said: “We noticed that we have been having challenges with our neighbouring states in recent time. On April 26, 2023, we were invited to Abuja by the National Boundary Commission (NBC), and it was there we realised that six local government areas of Ekiti State shared boundaries with Ondo State.

 “We were mandated at the meeting to look into all the contending land issues and resolve them amicably. We knew that some were in cordiality with the neighbours while some are just tolerating themselves and these challenges are majorly on land disputes.

“With what we have been able to collate from you today about the  challenges our people are facing at the borders, when next we meet in Abuja, we will be able to present them for speedy resolution.

“The government of Governor Biodun Oyebanji is peace-loving. It is only when we have peace that we can develop. We want to have good relationship with our neighbours. We don’t want inter-state clashes that can cause bloodshed and crisis.”

Applauding the government for the peace-building initiative, the Chairmen of Ayekire Local Government Area, Hon. Ayodele Fadumiye, appealed that efforts must be speedily stepped up to safeguard the lives of those at the border towns.

Fadumiye particularly frowned at the persistent attacks being suffered by some farmers in Egbe Ekiti in the hands of those he described as land grabbers from a particular town in Ondo State.

In his submission, the Onimesi of Imesi Ekiti, Oba Olatunji Olatunde, disclosed that the abandoned sprawling forest reserve from Agbado-Ise-Imesi to Ondo State border area has become a potential danger for encroachment, warning that the axis is gradually turning into a safe haven for intruders.