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Following Saturday’s invasion of Oyo State Government secretariat by Odua Nation agitators, Ibadan Obas, Chiefs, Baales, Mogajis, security agencies and religious bodies have condemned the action.
They spoke at a special security meeting convened on Wednesday by Ibadan Compound Peace Initiative (ICPI) and Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII).
The gathering noted that despite an Ibadan indigene not being among the agitators arrested by security agencies, there is a need to ensure that residents of Ibadan do not conspire with outsiders to start any agitation or cause chaos in the ancient city.
Those at the meeting maintained that residents vehemently reject any form of agitation that can lead to crisis, stressing that going by the position of Ibadan land, if there is any form of crisis, then Nigeria is not safe.
According to them, if Ibadan land has problem, Oyo State and Yoruba land is in trouble. If Yoruba land has problem, Nigeria and West Africa is in trouble. Then, if West Africa has problem, Africa is no longer in existence. And if Africa is no loner in existence, then the whole world is in big a mess.
Security chiefs at the meeting described Ibadan as a peaceful city, adding that with the security meeting, Ibadan land is ready to maintian its peaceful disposition. They assured that those behind the agitation shall be dealt with according to the rule of law.
At the meeting, a traditional oath was conducted on everybody, including the local security volunteers, which was first of its kind in the modern history of security architecture of the ancient city, by the Araba Oluawo of Ibadan land, Araba Odegbola Ifalere.
According to the oath, on no account should any resident of the state create, support, be in contact, meet or join any form of agitation.
At the meeting were the representative of the state Commissioner of Police, CSP Kolawole Umar; representative of the GOC, Mechanizesed Division, Lt. Col. O.R. Bello, who commended the efforts of ICPI and CCII in ensuring peace in Ibadan land and its environs.
Others are CCII President-General, Barr. Chief Niyi Ajewole; CCII executives, representative of Olubadan of Ibadan land, High Chief Abiola Iyiola; Oniroko of Iroko land, Alakinyele of Akinyele, Oniladuntan of Laduntan, Ibadan Mogajis led by Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori and Baales in Ibadan land, led by Baale F. Ige.
Babaloja of Oyo State, Alhaji Yekini Abass; Iyaloja of Oyo State, Alhaja Saratu Konibaje, all Iyalojas ans Babalojas in the 11 local government areas in Ibadan land, Chief Imam of Ibadan land and Grand Imam of Oyo State, Sheik Abdulganiy Agbotomokekere; representative of Engr. Dotun Sanusi, Oluode of Ibadan land, Chief Kehinde Ege; and representative of Oyo State CAN chairman, Bishop Adegbolagun George among others.
Speaking shortly after the meeting, the Coordinator, ICPI, Mogaji Nurudeen Akinade, said Ibadan will not support any form of agitation that can disrupt the peace of the state and Nigeria at large.
He described the invasion of Oyo State Government secretariat as unfortunate, adding that Ibadan land have decided to be more security conscious and will not support any form of evil.