The Ekiti State Government, has appealed to the 140 towns that constitute the state to be wary of the rising inter and intra community land disputes, warning that allowing such tendency to fester could hinder developmental pace, if not managed cautiously.
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, gave the warning in Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday, while mediating in the land crisis between Igbara Odo and Ikogosi Ekiti.
Mrs Afuye, in a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, begged the communities to heed Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s plea while commissioning the newly constructed Igbara-Odo- Ikogosi road, that this lingering land bedlam could be inimical to progress and longstanding brotherhood between the towns.
The Deputy Governor added that it would be difficult for government to initiate any developmental project on any legally or culturally encumbered land, particularly the growing agitations by the two towns that a viable project should be sited on the land under dispute.
She stated that the best way to maintain robust relationship between neighbouring communities, is by handling any inflammable issue, like boundary dispute, with care and caution.
“Governor Biodun Oyebanji openly begged the two towns while commissioning Igbara-Odo-Ikogosi road that they should resolve amicably. I appeal to them to reciprocate this gesture. Even the reconstruction of this road showed that the Governor loves you dearly.
“There is nothing you can benefit from fighting each other, so many people have lost their lives as a result of dispute over a piece of land, even our forefathers who owned the lands had passed away, so, why are we fighting each other?
” Please my people from Igbara-Odo and Ikogosi Ekiti, let us embrace peace and secure a good future for our children”, Afuye said.
The Deputy Governor pointed out that the present administration, had resolved so many land disputes through the spirit of give-and-take, urging them to emulate communities like Epe and Osan Ekiti in Moba local government areas of the state.
She stated that the people decided on their own to shift ground and allow peace to reign for the sake of their unborn generations and they all agreed on a certain area as boundary and government help them to demarcate it.
Afuye observed that government was not interested in taking land of any community with emphasis that it would also difficult for government to invest or put facility in areas where there is crisis.
She said that part of the visions of administration of Governor Oyebanji was to passionately invest and put infrastructure across communities in Ekiti in order to boost businesses, economy, end rural -urban migration and make life more meaningful to those at the grassroots.
She argued that most of the disputed lands, which were abandoned as a result of dispute could also harbour bandits and enemies of meaningful progress.
Speaking at the forum, the Arakaja of Igbara-Odo Ekiti, Oba Edward Jayeola, expressed joy over the government’s step to end the age long crisis, saying that the land dispute had affected do many things among the residents of two Communities.
Oba Jayeola said: “As result of this land dispute, I can not go to Ikogosi, many of my friends could not come to me also, we are peace loving people, we are ready to abide by what government decides over the matter, honestly we appreciate Governor Oyebanji for this great decision”.
The Regent of Ikogosi Ekiti, represented by High Chief Olatunde, Also expressed the willingness of his people to embrace peace and resolve the land dispute amicably.
The stakeholders at the parley, agreed to set up committee to visit the land and show area that can serve as permanent demarcation to resolve the issue.