The Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday
read a riot act to people in possession of illegal weapons. Receiving the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry
set up by his government to look into the crises between Ipetumodu and Ashipa
communities in Ife-North Local government of Osun at the Government House in
Osogbo, he ordered that they should voluntarily surrender such arms to
relevant authorities.
According to him, those concerned, who are habitually
breaching the peace and trampling on the rule of law should prepare themselves
ahead of the May 29 to hand over arms in their passion after which he said they
would enjoy one week of grace to do so. Describing the one week grace as a week of peace and
disarmament, the governor disclosed that his government had set up a Standing
Commission of Inquiry in the state to regularly review all cases of abuse of
power or status that may threaten peace and harmonious relationship in the
state.
Aregbesola also called on politicians and people with those
he called “Private Army” and guards to immediately disband such structures as
the state is entering an era where it will be strict on the maintenance of rule
of law, peace and order and the guarantee of the rights of the citizen.
The communities of Ipetumodu and Ashipa had engaged in an
orgy of violence and were on the path of mutual destruction before the
intervention of law enforcement agencies, the state government and other
leaders.
He held that people should exhibit maturity in making claims
to land so that communities will not witness violence that will diminish human
existence.
The governor advised that differences on land should not
lead to violence due to the fact that there will always be claims and counterclaims on land hence the need for a matured way of resolving such issues.
According to him: “People with illegal weapons should
voluntarily submit it to relevant authorities in not more than one week from
now before government begins to fish them out.
“People should live to the dictate of the law, our
government will after the one week ultimatum embark on house-to-house search
for illegal weapons so that the state can have peace.
“Whoever is caught after the one week deadline will face the
full wrath of the law because we are not in a stone age. The state will care
for the weak. We are admonishing the strong to be mindful of those that are not
strong. “We are entering an era in the state and the country at
large, where government of All Progressives Congress (APC) will be strict on
the issue of rule of law, maintenance of peace and order and the guarantee of rights
of citizens.”
He charged people of the state to at all times, resort to
Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) rather than result to violence and arson
when issues like land dispute arise.
Earlier, the Chairman of the judicial commission of inquiry
into Ipetumodu-Ashipa communal crisis, Justice Jide Falola, urged the governor
to set up implementation committee to review the recommendations.
The committee recommended on the payment of compensation to
victims noted that the two communities should be surcharged to pay certain for
officially sponsoring and supporting the crises morally and materially.
He also recommended that Ife-North local government should
also be surcharged for allowing the establishment of market in Ipetumodu on a
government acquired land without approval from the state government. He said: “We have virtually resolved the dispute between the
two communities especially the market day issue and boundary. We have also
recommended that some persons be investigated and possible prosecution. There is a proliferation of arms and ammunition in the axis
of the two communities. Those in possession are reportedly being protected by
elites in the society. We have recommended that police should take steps to
clean up the area of these dangerous weapons.
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