By Ayo Fadimu
Ondo State Governor and Chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and Governor Oluseyi Makinde on Sunday, visited the troubled area, in Sasa Market, Ibadan appealing to the warring parties to maintain calm.
The violent clash had reportedly led to the death of some residents, destruction of properties, and displacement of people in the area.
Governor Akeredolu who was at the scene under the auspices of the Southwest Governors’ Forum, pleaded with elders among the Yoruba Community in the area to call the youth to order as efforts are being intensified by government to find lasting solution to the avoidable violence which occurred last Friday.
Arakunrin Akeredolu who addressed the people of the area after assessing the wanton destruction of properties, begged them to allow peace to reign.
The Governor pleaded with the people not to take the law into their hands but allow the security agents and the Governor of the state to do their work by restoring peace to the community, assuring that all contending issues will be sorted out.
He said no matter the degree of perceived injustice that might have been perpetrated against the people, they should sheathe their swords and allow for dialogue and resolution of all contending issues within the provisions of the law.
While noting that tension and charged atmosphere would not profit anyone, Arakunrin Akeredolu asked the people to consider the past and the peaceful coexistence that they have enjoyed over several decades.
Governor Akeredolu said, “We have come to plead with you that no matter how angry, we should not react violently. I know many things may get us angry, but as we know, we have been living together for long. Let us think about the past, let us consider our peaceful coexistence in the past. Let us be calm.
“I have come on behalf of all southwest Governors, I beg you to be calm. While thinking about us here, let us also know that we are also everywhere. This is our fatherland, no doubt, but our people are also in some other people’s fatherland. We must also think about them.
“Let us not take laws into our hands. The police are here and they are ready to work now. Amotekun officers are here for you. I’m not saying that for us as Governors that we are perfect or the police are perfect. But we can’t take laws into our hands. Please, we know it might be very provocative but I appeal for calm because we have families in the up North. Let us cooperate with our Governor, Seyi Makinde.
Governor Makinde who also appealed for calm said that self-help cannot solve the issues, adding that there was no need for needless death in the area any longer.
Makinde also promised to give palliatives to those whose goods and property was affected by the mayhem. He further stated that he was reluctant to declare curfew and close the market, “because I felt the economic wellbeing of everyone here is important and because this is where you get what you use to feed yourselves and your families.
“But I had to take the decision to curb the crisis from escalating.
“However, I will engage your leaders this evening (Sunday). “One thing is, if you allow those who don’t have anything to lose here to blow this matter out of proportion, no one will be able to say where the crisis will end.
“But please, I beg of you, let us stop fighting ourselves. I can assure you that we will deal with the situation. “We must continue to maintain the peace here. Those who are hoodlums here will be dealt with but those who are law-abiding will be compensated for what they have lost,” he promised.