The hope of amicable resolution of the interstate boundary issues and disputes between Oyo and Ogun state beckons Friday as both states have agreed to abide by whatever decision made by the boundary dispute committee.
Rising from a meeting which lasted for about ten hours at the Oyo State House of Chiefs, Parliamentary Building, Agodi Secretariat complex, the two states among others, also agreed that the states, affected local government councils and respective traditional institutions will continue to ensure peaceful co-existence amongst the border communities pending the conclusion of actions on the interstate boundaries.
The states also agreed to facilitate another meeting before the end of the first quarter of 2018 to finalize the demarcation and ownership of the contentious territories.
The meeting was facilitated by the National Boundary Commission (NBC) and presided over by the Director-General, NBC, who was represented by the Director, Internal Boundaries, Surv. Adamu Adaji.
The Ogun and Oyo states delegation were led respectively by their deputy governors who also double as the Chairmen of each state boundary committees.
While Ogun state Attorney General and Commissioner for justice, Dr. Olumide Ayeni represented the deputy governor, the Oyo deputy governor, Otunba Moses Adeyemo was in attendance. The Surveyor-General of the federation was also represented at the parley by the director, Internal Boundaries in the office of the Surveyor-General, Surveyor M. K Mohammed.
The two states have been involved in inter-boundary crisis particularly at the Eruwa and Bakatari axis, with the members of the communities engaging in communal clashes.
In his remark, the Oyo deputy Governor who noted that Oyo and Ogun states are one and same despite the administrative boundary issues regretted that the delayed conclusion of the permanent demarcation of the boundary has generated an unhealthy attention and commotion between the affected border communities. He enjoined the states to maintain the ‘status quo ante’ pending the final determination. He also pledged Oyo state’s support and cooperation with the efforts of National Boundary Commission.
While speaking, his Ogun State counterpart commended the NBC for the prompt responses to the requests of the two states, pointing out that the boundary issues had lingered on for too long. She appealed to for more efforts in the boundary definition process, calling on the affected communities to promote peace and imbibe the spirit of brotherliness between the two states and pledge her states cooperation to the Commission.
She also called for attention to the issues that have militated against the acceptance of the boundary in the Bakatari sector and stressed the need for the decisions to be revisited in the true spirit of peace and unity.
Earlier, the NBC DG in an opening remark noted the need for peace and concord amongst the border communities of the two states, noting that the essence of the meeting was to address the recent complaint and work out a programme of action towards completing the demarcation of the remaining sectors of the boundary. The DG, however, stressed that the boundary in question is the administrative boundary that delimits each of the States and not traditional boundary based on ethnic groupings and appealed for the support of all the stakeholders while expressing the hope that outstanding exercises will be concluded as quickly as possible.
