Warring factions in oil rich Ugboland in Ilaje Local Government of Ondo State have embraced peace after a four-year talk.
The peace deal was sealed with the inauguration of a 56-member Ugbo Development Congress (UDC), headed by Mr. Benson Obayelu and the Ugboland Council of Obas, as well as Council of Chiefs.
Leaders of Ugboland, who spoke at the inauguration, agreed that their age-long fracas hindered development in the community despite possessing huge oil and gas deposits.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu said at the event that no meaningful development could take place where there was disunity.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Lucky Aiyetadiwa, said affliction would not arise in Ugboland again, as warring factions had agreed to work together.
He, however, identified Ugboland as one of the hotbeds for cultism, saying their activities portended danger to development.
Akeredolu said: “Ugboland is richly blessed. The people cannot afford not to come together to achieve development.
“The bringing of traditional rulers together in Ugboland will contribute to ease of administration. We will continue to support you where necessary to ensure the noble move is sustained and improved on.”
The traditional ruler of Ugboland, the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, said the fracas in Ugboland was deeply rooted, adding that the kings were not seeing eyeball to eyeball.
He said he never believed peace could return to Ugboland during his reign, even when the peace moves began four years ago.
“I can sleep well this night. I never expected to see some people here. I never knew they could settle this dispute.”
The Chairman of the UDC Inauguration Committee, Chief Olusola Oke, said peace had returned to Ugboland.
He said the UDC would serve as a voice for Ugboland and ensure all things due to it were delivered.