Friday, December 24, 2004

Oyinlola wades into Osun community feud
From Seun Adeoye, Osogbo

GOVERNOR Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State on Wednesday met with the warring leaders of Ora-Igbomina, a town in Ifedayo Council of the state where violence broke out last weekend.

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Oyinlola, according to his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Lasisi Olagunju, appealed to the two feuding royal families of Asaoni and Akesin to sheathe their swords by allowing peace to reign.

But, The Guardian learnt that the newly crowned Asaoni of Ora, Oba Jacob Adeyeye Olayemi, expressed displeasure at the attitude of the state government over a bloody clash that has claimed three lives and injured several others.

Olayemi reportedly accused the state governor of not deeming it fit to visit the troubled area after 72 hours that his people were allegedly attacked by people suspected to be in support of the other faction.

He was said to have told Oyinlola that the people from Akesin lineage did not lose "a pin" because it was "a premeditated attack against my people".

According to him, all the houses and vehicles that were burnt belong to him and his people, while those who died and sustained injuries were his subjects.

The monarch, it was gathered, specifically informed the governor that he should not expect "peace" in a place where "murderers are walking freely".

"Your excellency, there will be no peace where we live together with murderers, except justice is done, nobody should talk about peace," the traditional ruler reportedly said.

Meanwhile, the state Police Commissioner, Alhaji Audu Abubakar, told journalists that those arrested would be charged to court soon. He disclosed that peace had been restored.

Abubakar assured the fleeing indigenes to return, as the police were capable of restoring peace to the town.

The crisis broke out last Saturday shortly after the presentation of staff of office to Oba Olayemi by the state governor, an event that subsequently led to a bloody clash.