Oyo and Ogun States Houses of Assembly have agreed to work with the National Boundary Commission and other relevant stakeholders in a bid to settle lingering boundary disputes affecting both states and other parts of the southwest region.
The agreement was reached at a meeting of the leadership of the two Houses of Assemblies, held at the Oke Mosan, Abeokuta Assembly Complex in Ogun State.
The meeting, co – chaired by the Ogun State Deputy Speaker, Mrs Lateefat Ajayi and her Oyo State counterpart, Mr Muhammed Fadeyi also featured deliberations on boundary issues with Osun State.
Addressing the meeting, Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr Fadeyi explained that the issue had earlier been raised under matters of urgent public importance on the floor of Oyo State House of Assembly, hence, the lawmakers were in Abeokuta to team up with their counterparts in Ogun State, on ways of finding lasting solutions to the boundary conflicts.
He advocated the need for Ogun State House of Assembly and residents of the affected villages to work with their counterparts from Oyo State towards exploring legislative means of addressing the perennial boundary conflicts affecting both States, especially, in Ibarapa East and Ibarapa Central, including Elere, Ayegbede, Opeji, Ilugun, Atakan and Aya villages, as well as Iddo/ Bakatari, Obete and Apojola.
Earlier in the opening remarks, Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr Oludaisi Elemide, while commending the Oyo State lawmakers for the visit, had described the boundary issues among the southwest states as a family matter that should be resolved amicably.
Mr. Elemide emphasized the need for sustainable unity, peaceful coexistence and development in the Southwest, identifying the need for officials of the National Boundary Commission to be present at the next meeting, to enable the team to undertake a joint tour for physical verification, with a view to addressing all issues raised by residents of the affected boundary communities.
He urged the people to remain calm and allow peace to reign, pointing out that that both Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Seyi Makinde of Oyo would be duly notified on the progress made by the two State Houses of Assembly.
Also present at the meeting, were representatives of the State Ministries of Agriculture and Justice, the State Surveyor – General, Baales and residents of the affected communities
RN
