Ekiti State Government has hailed the Federal Government over the National Boundary Commission’s (NBC) resolve to mediate in the lingering border dispute between Eda-Oniyo in Ekiti State and Obbo-Ayegunle in Kwara State, describing the gesture as the best way to de-escalate tension and avert unwarranted carnage.

Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye, who spoke during a joint meeting held to resolve the knotty boundary crisis between the two communities, assured that Governor Biodun Oyebanji would work relentlessly to ensure that the dispute doesn’t strain the smooth relationship between the two states.

Afuye, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in her office, Leke Adefolaju, noted that the areas under contention were demarcated by the colonial administration as the boundary between the Northern and Southern Protectorates, saying that the crisis stemmed from the planting of economic trees by Kwara farmers in areas that fall within Ekiti province.

The deputy governor acknowledged the pivotal role of agriculture in the economic survival of any country, saying that the state government didn’t expect the farmers to exhibit actions suggesting that they were the rightful owners of the occupied regions.

She commended both states and the traditional institutions of the two communities for dousing tension and adopting diplomacy to tackle some of the raging crises, saying that dialogue remains the most potent instrument that can be deployed to settle the tussle.

Similarly, Kwara State Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, represented by his Principal Private Secretary, Ayantola Malomo, urged the NBC not to rely on colonial documents alone, saying that other existing archival documents with probative value should be considered.

Alabi said that Kwara State won’t oppose the idea of the two states reaching agreements and making concessions to resolve the matter, describing the two states as neighbours who should live together harmoniously and beneficially.

However, Director-General of the NBC, Adamu Adaji, who presided over the interface, assured that all the technical issues, histories and the ambiguities in the features used for demarcation of the 70 kilometres stretch between the two states by the colonial masters would be considered to tackle the age-long crisis.

Adaji gave the assurance that the border areas between the two communities and up to Erinmope and Odo Owa axis would be demarcated properly to avert future land imbroglio that could throw the area into turmoil. (The Guardian News)

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