Oyo State Governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, has urged the two warring parties in the ancient Oyo town to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign in the interest of peace and development of the town.

The governor’s appeal came on the heel of a call by the head of Ashipa family, Alhaji Ganiyu Ajiboye, that the state government should institute a high-powered panel of inquiry into the lingering crisis between the Ashipa family and the Alaafin of Oyo in order to put the matter to a final rest.
Speaking with newsmen in Ibadan yesterday, Alhaji Ajiboye stated that the only panacea to the crisis was for a panel of inquiry that would look into the arguments of both families, as well as their historical antecedents, and resolve the matter amicable.

“It is true that there has never been peace in Oyo since the gruesome murder of the last Ashipa, Chief Amuda Olorunosebi. But the path to peace, which the government fashioned out by reverting us back to our traditional title of Alago Oja, is now being blocked by Alaafin. The way out is for us to have back our ancestral title of Alago Oja, which has been our title since we founded this town (Ago Oja) before Atiba took refuge.

“Of more importance is Alafin’s interference in the title of Ago Oja, which the government bestowed on me. It is none of the business of Alaafin to enter into litigation with me on the title because I am not contesting the Alaafin stool with him. This is my ancestral title, not Alaafin’s title.

Therefore, I appeal to the state government under the able leadership of our action governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, to institute a high-powered panel of inquiry into the matter and the lingering crisis in Oyo,” Ajiboye stated.
But yesterday, the state governor called on the two parties in the crisis to sheathe their swords and give peace a chance in the interest of the people and development of the town.

Speaking through his Special Adviser on Public Communication, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the governor stated that a mercenary has been put in place to ensure permanent peace in the ancient town, urging the two parties to ensure that the mercenary thrive in its assignment.

“Government appeals to all interest in the dispute to sheathe their sword and let peace reign. Government is not interested in apportioning blame. What is paramount is that the mercenary which the state government has put in place will ensure permanent resolution of the crisis and it should be allowed to thrive.

“Our appeal is that people should not take advantage of the situation to further compound the issue at stake and we thereby appeal to parents to caution their wards and ensure that they are forewarned not to be used as agents of destruction and destabilization in the state,” Oyelade stated on behalf of the governor.