On Wednesday, the Oyo State Government started making moves to resolve a long-standing dispute over the boundaries between Saki-East and Oorelope Local Government Areas.
The state government called a peace conference between the representatives of the two local governments, and it took place in the state capital of Ibadan at the Western Hall of the Agodi Secretariat.
The leaders of the two communities were applauded by the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, who also serves as the Chairman of the Boundary Commission, for not taking matters into their own hands. According to Lawal, reporting any intrusions from neighboring communities demonstrated that the two parties were genuinely prepared for peace.
Lawal clarified that border disputes had existed since 1960 and that, in the interests of responsible governance, both interstate and interboundary disputes should be settled peacefully to prevent violence.
He said, “It is a pleasure for me to welcome you all to this very important meeting to put heads together for further appropriate action in resolving the boundary disputes between the two local governments. My attention was recently drawn to the issue of demarcation and the Office of the Deputy Governor has been handling the issue very carefully to prevent bloodshed.
“So, on behalf of His Excellency, Seyi Makinde, I can assure you that we are doing everything possible towards the demarcation exercise, hence the need for you to exercise more patience on the task before us. The government would mobilise the Office of Surveyor General to carry out the land boundary demarcation exercise. Whoever between the two communities has documentary evidence to assist the surveyor general in respect to the survey should make a presentation.”
The deputy governor also asked them to continue living in harmony with one another while the administration worked to find a long-term solution, emphasizing that the government would not participate in legal fights over boundaries.
Olaolu Adedokun, the Superintendent of Police and representative of the State Commissioner of Police, had earlier stated that the meeting would serve as a clear signal to other communities that the government genuinely cared about the welfare of its citizens.
He continued by saying that in addition to interfering in the extrajudicial resolution of the border issue between the two local governments, the Makinde-led administration has given the state Police command tremendous support in their efforts to guarantee that the good people of the state live in peace.
Therefore, Adedokun praised the traditional leaders for bringing their youths into compliance and pledged that the state police command would continue to do its share to ensure that the populace lives in peace.
