The Ekiti State Government has begun a process of mediation in the boundary dispute between Ilasa-Ekiti and Alu community in Kogi State, calling on the two towns to exercise restraint on the crisis-ridden land to avert unwarranted communal clash.
The action by the state government was sequel to a letter dated 17th October, 2022 and addressed to Governor Biodun Oyebanji from the National Boundary Commission, NBC and signed by the Director, Internal Boundaries, Mr. U. N. Emiowele.
The NBC’s letter stemmed from a letter dated September 13, 2002 written by the Kogi State government, raising allegation that the people of Ilasa -Ekiti were encroaching on the land belonging to Alu in Kogi State.
Acting on the letter, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor ,Chief Monisade Afuye, invited the Alasa of Ilasa in Council led by Oba Oluwasesan Ajayi and the owners of the affected land to begin a process through which the matter could be nipped in the bud without snowballing into crisis between the two communities.
The Deputy Governor ured to the monarch to appeal to his subjects and ensure that no action was taken pending the outcome of the federal government’s action on the matter.
“I appeal to you to exercise restatraint. Don’t let us disobey or disrespect the federal government. Let us await whatever action they will take on the matter. But we are assuring you that the Governor, Biodun Oyebanji won’t abandon you.
“Ekiti State won’t allow whatever that is due to any community legitimately to be taken to another state and we would not also want our people to forcefully take away what doesn’t belong to them. So, let us wait for the action that will be taken by the FG on the matter.
“We learnt the area had been demarcated provisionally, don’t go beyond where that was allotted to you .We will write Abuja on this matter . It won’t speak well for us to be losing our people to any bloody communal clash. We will do our best to protect our state”.
Chief Afuye warned that persistent boundary disputes being experienced in some towns could impede the pace of development and peace, if allowed to fester into a full scale war.
Also, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor set up a 10-man Boundary Resolution Technical Committee to resolve the lingering boundary dispute between Esure and Ilomu Ekiti, in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Goverment Area of the State.
Membership of the Technical Committee includes: the Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor’s Office, Mr. Abayomi Opeyemi, the Executive Secretary, Surveyor Olalekan Olajide, Ekiti State Boundary Commission, the Ekiti State Acting Surveyor General , Surveyor Adebayo Faleto, a representative from the Ministry of Justice and three representatives from each of the two feuding communities.
Chief Afuye, had while interfacing with the communities, directed the the Elesure, Oba Adebanji Ajibola and Olomu, Oba Oluwadamilare Ojo to cooperate with the committee to be able to broker truce on the matter.
“Let me appeal to the two kabiyesis to allow the Committee to do its work without molestation and interference. Past records and history had always been the problems. I want to plead with you to allow peace to reign
“Once the Ilomu- Ekiti had been joined in the case between Esure and Ifaki Ekiti on the same land, then Ilomu should stop selling lands in that area pending the outcome of the committee.
“Land dispute used to happen everywhere, but whatever happens, we will look into the matter and find solution to it. Cooperate with the committee, so that this dispute can be resolved amicably.
“The two towns are like Siamese twins. What is in the record was that they should go home and resolve. It has to be give and take. We will leave everything one day. Let us give peace a chance.
“The feuding parties should come together. I appeal to you to embrace the resolution that will be brought by the committee to be set up by the government. When crisis begins, nobody knows the extent to which it will go”.
In his submission during the peace parley, the Elesure, Oba Ajibola, accused Ilomu people of selling part of the disputed land despite Court’s ruling that no action should be taken on the land pending the dispensation of justice on the encumbered parcel of land.
The monarch insisted that the disputed land belongs to his community, saying he is currently in Court over a case instituted against him and others since 2007 by the neighbouring Ifaki Ekiti on the same land.
Countering the position canvassed by the monarch, the Olomu, Oba Oluwadamilare Ojo, stated that it was only his town that shared boundary with Ifaki-Ekiti contrary to the position stated by Elesure.
