Ogun And Oyo Assemblies Convene Amid Dispute Over Borders

The Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Daisi Elemide, has said that the boundary dispute between the two states is a family affair that would be resolved amicably.

Elemide disclosed this on Wednesday when hosting the Oyo State House of Assembly contingent led by the Deputy Speaker and member representing Ona-Ara State Constituency, Mohammed Fadeyi at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The meeting was jointly chaired by the Deputy Speakers of Ogun and Oyo states, Lateefat Ajayi and Fadeyi.

The Speaker during the meeting explained that “The unity, peaceful coexistence and development of the Southwest remained sacrosanct and so there is the need for the officials of the National Boundary Commission to be present at the next meeting.

“The team will also have to undertake a joint physical verification to the sites to address all the issues raised by the representatives of the affected boundary communities.”

Elemide called on the residents of the boundary communities to remain calm and allow peace to reign, saying that the state governor, Dapo Abiodun and his Oyo counterpart, Seyi Makinde, would be duly notified on the progress made by the two State Houses of Assemblies.

Fadeyi said their mission was to team up with their counterparts in Ogun to find a lasting solution to the issue of boundary conflicts between the two states.

He said this involved communities and villages along Ibarapa East and Ibarapa Central- Elere, Ayegbede, Opeji, Ilugun, Atakan and Aya villages, as well as Iddo/ Bakatari, Obete and Apojola amongst others.

He said the issue was raised under a matter of urgent public importance on the floor of the Oyo State House of Assembly, hence the need to solicit the support of the Ogun State House of Assembly and the representatives of the affected villagers to come together with their Oyo counterparts to find a legislative means of addressing the perennial conflicts.

A member representing Water Side State Constituency, Samsideen Lawal, the representative of the State Ministry of Justice, who is also the Director of Legislative Drafting in the Ministry of Justice, James Mafe and the State Surveyor General Oladele Ewulo, recalled the efforts and progress made by the states in resolving the issues in the past.

They noted that the issues would be amicably resolved with the involvement of the officials from the National Boundary Commission.