Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II has commended the maturity of Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola in his handling of the illegal entry of Ife locals and residents into the Shasha forest in the state to avert crisis.
This was even as the governor noted that his government would do everything possible to avoid being confrontational with monarchs in the state but seek amicable ways of resolving issues that would affect the peace.
Aregbesola and the monarch stated these at an interactive meeting called by the governor preceding the issuance of white paper by the government over illegal entry, demarcation, allocation and farming at the Shasha Forest Reserve in Ile-Ife.
The meeting had in attendance the Deputy Governor of Osun, Mrs. Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, Chief of Staff to Aregbesola, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, Head of Service, Mr. Sunday Owoeye, security chiefs from the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, State Security Services, professionals, technocrats, traditional rulers and members of the public. Aregbesola had earlier set up a committee to foster peaceful atmosphere needed for the development of the state in accordance with the six-point integral action plan of his administration
Ooni lauded Aregbesola for adopting dialogue to engender peace in the state since assumption of office, saying the governor had been consciously prioritizing public opinions and views in conflicts and disputes resolution.
“What we are witnessing here today is a challenge to other leaders. We should develop government-community relationship, if we do that, there will be peace across Nigeria.
“This does not apply to Osun alone, it must go far as the Niger-Delta and the North. Whatever decision governments want to make, they must carry the locals along.
“Governor Aregbesola has the executive rights based on the Land Use Act of 1978, so far the land is meant for public use. But in the good spirit of government-community relationship, for us to avert security issues, that is why we are having this interactive session on Shasha Forest Reserve,” Ooni said.
Earlier, Governor Aregbesola called for continued peace and harmony among the citizens saying his administration adopted dialogue as the only panacea to promote sustainable peace and harmony.
He described wide consultations and dialogue as veritable ingredients to peaceful cohabitation among the citizenry, noting that his administration was cautious not to have any friction with the Ooni of Ife and other monarchs in the state.
Aregbesola frowned at what he described as illegal exploitation of government treasury at the Forest Reserve, which according to him had caused a lot of setback over the years.
Hijab: Hands off case, CAN tells Osun judge
Osun State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has instituted a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal of the June 3 judgment, which allowed Muslim students freedom to wear hijab approved by the state government to public schools.
CAN made this known yesterday at the resume hearing of the case before Justice Jide Falola of an Osun State High Court.
Consequently, Justice Jide Falola who had abandoned the on-going court recess to attend to the case due to its importance in a brief ruling stuck out the case based on the fact that the state Christian community had approached the appellate court on the matter.
CAN had on June 22 filed an application at the High Court asking for a stay of execution of the judgment.
Tens of adherents of the two religions and their lawyers trooped to the court premises at Oke-Fia area of the state for the resumed hearing of the stay of execution application filed by CAN but met empty courtroom.
According to information, the state CAN had in fresh affidavits deposed to by Rev. Jacob Asani and Rev. Olasunbo Ige urged Justice Falola to hands off the case as the state Christian community had approached a High Court to adjudicate on the matter. The State CAN had through its counsel, Olufemi Ayandokun on Monday, July 18 headed for the Appeal Court to file necessary papers, including a fresh application for a stay of execution of the June 3 hijab judgment.
Justice Falola had during the last court sitting on July 8 admonished parties in the matter to refrain from doing anything against constituted authority, saying his judgment was based on the law and facts before him “at that material time” and that the case was a constitutional issue that will still be taken to the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the state CAN Chairman, Rev. Elisha Ogundiya has called on Christians across the state to be law-abiding pending the determination of the case before the Appeal Court while wishing that the state government will ensure that status-quo would be maintained in the state public schools.
According to him, the state CAN would pursue the matter to a logical conclusion and urged his members to be vigilant and prayerful for a successful conclusion of the suit at the Appellate court.