•Report by Kamil Opeyemi
Concerned over spiraling rumours of impending boundary war between Osogbo and Ede, Traditional rulers the Ataoja of Osogboland,Oba Jimoh Olaonipekun, and his counterpart in Ede, Oba Munirudeen Lawal have said there shall be no crisis between the two neighbors.
They were reacting to the rumours of crisis between the two communities over the boundary where the state Government Secretariat is located.
The two prominent monarchs reacted in a joint statement which was made available to NPO Reports on Sunday.
Recall that there were reports of tensions in Osun State since the swearing in of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Some people in Ede especially those at the boundary areas have been squaring up and bracing for a battle to reclaim the entire areas of the land occupied by the state secretariat complex.
It was also gathered (but could not be confirmed as at press time) that some officials of the government have been surreptitiously indicating the need to change government official communication channels such as the letter headed papers of their ministries by changing “Abere Osogbo” to “Abere Ede.”
However,according to the joint statement by the two monarchs,there was no conflicts or controversy over the status,the location and the naming of the state government secretariatThe
The monarchs stated that the state government had not in anyway acted controversially over the
existing status of the state government Secretariat.
The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to rumours and wild insinuations about the status of Osun State Government Secretariat. As royal fathers of Osogboland and Edeland,we affirm there is no conflict or controversy over the status, the location and naming of the state Government Secretariat.
“We want to reassure our people that the status quo remains,as the State Government has not acted in anyway to deny any community of their rights and privileges. We blame political forces for attempting to politicize the issue to forment trouble and destabilize the State.
“We call on our people at home and abroad to continue to ensure peaceful co-existence across their communities.
“As royal fathers,we are convinced the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke has genuine intention to deepen inter-community peace and partnership for development of our dear State.”
In his reaction to the development,the state Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke while speaking with NPO Correspondent commended the two Monarchs for their sense of maturity.
READ ALSO:
- Mayhem in Osun as Gunmen Attack APC Campaign Office; House Speaker’s CoS Hospitalised
- Saving Govt Money Shouldn’t Be An Issue, Let’s Talk About Corruption; Obi Replies Tinubu
- Govt Releases Number of Kidnapped Passengers From Edo Train Attacks
Adeleke who spoke through his spokesperson,Mallam Olawale Rasheed said Governor Adeleke is committed to peaceful co-existence amongst the community in the State.
“We just commend the traditional ruler who are the fathers of the land for recognizing the fact that Governor Ademola Adeleke remain committed to peaceful co-existence amongst the Communities in osun state and we thank them for also acknowledging that the governor has not done anything to temper with the tetoscope on the issue of government Secretariat.
“Moreover, we thank the traditional rulers for acknowledging that some political elements were behind the rumours and their intention is to forment crisis and destabilize the State.
So, what we can just say is to thank our royal fathers for actually acting rightly,”he said