Ekiti State Government has denounced claims by Odo Community, a farmstead under Ado Ekiti, that it has resolved a land dispute between it and Ilawe Ekiti in its favour.
In Statement in Ado Ekiti, The Deputy Governor Chief Monisade Afuye, described a radio jingle , sponsored by the Odo Community and currently being aired on a private radio station within the state, claiming that the state government had, during a recent mediation meeting by the office of the Deputy Governor, resolved the lingering land dispute in its favour as false and misleading.
The Deputy Governor who spoke through her Media Assistance, Mr Victor Ovunje urged all the stations airing the misleading advertorial to stop the jingle to avert internal crisis between the two communities.
Chief Afuye pointed out that airing of such unfounded, deceptive and divisive message could cause confusion and spark off internal unrest that could lead to violence.
“Our attention has been drawn to a radio jingle sponsored by Odo Community and being aired on Fresh FM, 106.9 to the effect that the Ekiti State Boundary Commission under the supervision of the Deputy Governor, had resolved a pending land dispute in its favour during a recent meeting held at the behest of the Deputy Governor.
We are using this medium to clarify that the meeting was supposed to hold on 11th May, 2023, but the Deputy Governor and stakeholders directed that the meeting be rescheduled for another date because one of the parties, had no representation at the meeting.
As a peace- loving and right -thinking government, we thought it would be inappropriate for us to start adjudicating on a sensitive issue of that nature with one party having no representation .
We found it deceptive, disappointing and embarrassing that a party to the land dispute pending before us, and which no final decision had been taken could be claiming victory over a matter that has not come to finality.
We hereby direct that such advertorial should stop forthwith, as we found it capable of igniting confusion, unrest and preemptive to the action that will be taken by the government on the pending matter.
However, the Deputy Governor, has directed the representatives of the two communities to appear at her office on Thursday, 25th May, 2023, to begin interaction that will lead to the resolution of the crisis.
