There is a glimmer of hope of restoring peace among the warring Osun communities ? Ifon, Erin-Osun and Ilobu ? recently ravaged by boundary disputes as their traditional rulers have appeared before the peace committee constituted by Governor Ademola Adeleke, The Guardian reliably learnt.

The three communities, located in Orolu and Irepodun local councils of the state, have been embroiled in a perennial boundary dispute, which has culminated in the loss of lives and wanton destruction of property.

Though the state government had intensified measures to stem the resurgence of hostilities by declaring curfew in the affected communities, the development had failed to restore peace.

Meanwhile, the expanded peace committee, which was constituted by the Adeleke-led administration, chaired by the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, and co-chaired by a renowned human rights activist, Waheed Lawal, along with four other traditional rulers in the state, met with the affected monarchs in the state capital last Thursday.

The Olufon of Ifon, Oba Peter Akinyooye; the Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olaniyan; and the Elerin, Oba Yusuf Omoloye, were physically present at the meeting for the first time since the inauguration of the committee and resolved to cooperate with the government.

Sources informed The Guardian that the monarchs, who were recently warned by Adeleke to ensure resolution of the boundary dispute or face dethronement, promised their commitment to promote peace and tranquility in their domains.

Also, the Co-chairman of the committee, Waheed Lawal, who confirmed the development yesterday, said that the committee, in its effort to ensure a lasting solution, had heard the grievances of the indigenes of the three towns and also visited the buffer zones that are precipitating the crisis.

He said that the committee did not just listen to their grievances, but had visited the disputed areas and also collected the written submissions from the towns, which were adopted by their representatives.

?We have also met with the traditional rulers from the communities, but the details of our meeting will be made public later during the submission of our report to the government very soon. We are hopeful that this step would ensure a lasting solution to the persistent crisis in the areas,? Lawal posited. (The Guardian)

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