From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan

HEADS of Hausa communities in the six states of South West met in Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday, over the inter-tribal clash which occurred in Ile-Ife, Osun State, last week.

The peace meeting resolved that the traditional and business Hausa-Fulani leaders in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states should go back to their respective states of origin in the northern part of the country and ensure there is no reprisal.

The meeting was convened by the Sarkin Shasha and head of Arewa community in the 17 southern states of the country,  Alhaji Haruna Maiyasin, at his palace in Shaha, Ibadan.

“The reason I called the meeting is to let all of us brainstorm on how to ensure the cordial relationship and harmony among Yoruba and Arewa community would not become a thing of the past.

“The two tribes have inter- married and we have done so many good things together. We should not allow the clash to disrupt the peace in the land. The Yoruba are not against the Hausa or Fulani. We should take what hap- pened in good faith,” he said.

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Arewa Matters, Muhammed Hus- sein, condoled with Hausa residents in Yorubaland over the clash, although he de- scribed himself as the chief mourner.

Yoruba, he said, are not hostile to the Hausa because during the Ife-Modakeke war which claimed many lives,

No Hausa or Fulani died. He also noted that “over the decades, there was no conflict between Hausa-Fu- lani and the Yoruba nation. We all have similar ideas in culture, dressing, religion, mutual understanding, good relationship and we are brotherly and maritally close. “We should not allow in- truders to destroy our cordial relationship and the peace, harmony and tranquillity that we are enjoying among ourselves. If there is any in- truder among the Hausa, they should not keep them.

We should fish them out….”