BREAKING NEWS: Report on communal crisis ‘almost completed’ – Osun peace panel

The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke. Photo: State House

 The 100-man conflict resolution committee instituted by the Osun State Government to resolve Ifon/Ilobu/Erin-Osun Communal crises has said the report of the panel would soon be submitted to the State Government.

The co-chairman of the panel, Comrade Waheed Lawal, who disclosed during an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday, explained that the assignment of the committee had reached the final stage.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, had instituted the resolution panel in January this year following the resumption of hostilities among the three communities.

The State Commissioner for Information and Civic Engagement, Kolapo Alimi, in a release announcing the panel, said the government put in place the committee to address the incessant land disputes in the area.

Alimi further said each of the three affected communities of Ifon, Ilobu and Erin-Osun had 25 representatives, while the state government would equally be represented by 25 members. On the day the committee was inaugurated, it was given two weeks to complete its assignment.

However, over six months later, the panel has not turned in its report, leading to concerns among indigenes of the affected communities.

But responding to inquiries by The PUNCH on the assignment of the committee, Lawal said, “Very soon, the report will be submitted. A few challenges had already been addressed.

“Work is almost completed on the assignment, and we hope to turn in our report very soon. We are already in the final stage of our work. People should just be patient.”

Asked for the highlights of the report, Lawal simply said, “Let’s be patient. It will soon be submitted, and everyone will see the diligence we put into the assignment.”