Ondo Land Dispute: ‘Don’t Be Partial In Your Reports’, Ikale People Urges Constituted Panel Committee

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

The people of Ikale land in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo state has appealed to the panel committee constituted by the state government to inquiry the violence erupted between Araromi Obu and Ikale not to be partial or bias in their findings and recommendations.

The Abodi of Ikale land, Oba George Faduyile, made the appealed when the 5-man panel of inquiry led by its chairman payed a courtesy visit to his palace on Thursday.

It would be recalled that the Ondo State government set up a 5-Man panel headed by former Commissioner of National Resources, Barr. Tunde Atere to unearth the factors that led to the crises between the people of Araromi Obu and Ikale(Ago Alaye) on July 16, 2019 resulting in the alleged destruction of properties.

But Oba Faduyile, said the two communities had been living peacefully together for more than a century ago saying that the disaffection crept when Araromi -Obu referred to them as non- indigenes in their local Government

The monarch explained that the right and privileges of Ikale land were frequently and openly denied because they were baptized non indigenes in a local government to which their settlements form a major part.

Oba Faduyile said, “However, the recent violence which began with the waylaying of Ikales by July 16, 2019 is what your panel is out to investigate and apportion unbiased blames where they lay.

“While the government is out to maintain peace in the state and the panel is to be upright in its investigation, no efforts should be employed to make the findings of the panel partial and bias to shift blames for the guilt on the innocence.

“I wish to state once more that Ikale people are peace loving and they have open arms to accommodate friendly non Ikale.

“I wish your panel a peaceful and thorough inquiry devoid of any bias or favouritism”.

He therefore, said that those people arrested after the crises should be released unconditional to pave way for peace in the two communities.

“Initially, 9 people were arrested but after some days other people were also arrested including the 89 year – old man which is still in detention now.

“All those people should be released and government should also lift curfew totally that have been in the community, ” he said.

Similarly, the Jagunmolu of Ikale land, Dr. Gen. Olu Bajowa however charged the panel committee to follow due process and be guided by the rule of law, where fairness, equity and justice will form the criteria of deliberations and recommendations, which will pass the test of the boundary commission of the Federal Government and also withstand the verdict of history.

In his response, Chairman of the Panel Committee, Barr. Tunde Atere assured the community that the committee would not be bias in their investigations and recommendations at the conclusion of the assignment.

Atere, therefore, called on the community cooperation and support in other to find the last solutions to the crises.

He said, “I know that our kabiyesi and other chiefs will not be happy on what happened on that faithful day likewise we the panel committee are not happy and the state government.

“We will no be partial or bias in our findings and reports but we need a maximum cooperation and support so that the issue can be resolve amicably”.