Osogbo – The
judicial panel of inquiry set up by Osun state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola,
to unravel the circumstances that led to the communal clash between
Hausa and
Yoruba communities at Sabo area, Ile-Ife, yesterday concluded its sittings. The
fracas that ensued between Hausa and Yoruba in Ile-Ife on March 8, led to the
death of many people.
Governor
Aregbesola while innaugurating the panel charged the committee members to
investigate the remote causes of the crisis and recommendations within four
weeks. The panel which began its sitting on April 19, 2017, however did not
receive any eyewitness account from those that testified before it. Majority of
those that submitted memoranda were those that approached the panel for
compensation from the government.
While many claimed that their shops were
looted during the fracas, others also claimed that their houses were burnt and
appealed to government to assist them. Speaking with journalists after the sitting
yesterday, the Secretary of the panel, Mr. Bisi Babalola, said that the panel
has treated 289 of the 406 memoranda it received.
Babalola who admitted that
majority of those that submitted memoranda were not at the scene of the crisis,
assured that the panel would address it in its recommendation. He dispel claim
that the crisis was a tribal issue, saying “security report revealed that the
crisis started between a Yoruba woman and Hausa man due to misunderstanding”.
“We received 406 memoranda and with the four we have taken today, we have
treated 289. I can assure the public that the panel would soon make
recommendations to the government in due course.
“We started sitting on April
19 and we sat for 27 days. Many of those that submitted memoranda have refused
to show up before the panel despite announcements and several invitations,”
Babalola stated. Earlier, the chairman of the panel, Justice Moshood Adeigbe,
appreciated the people of Ife for the cooperation and support given to the
panel during its sitting in the town. He said the panel was ready to fulfil its
earlier promise to give a fair and unbiased recommendation on the outcome of
its findings.
However, the President, Ife Development Board, Lawrence Olajire
Olawoyin, appreciated the governor for allowing the panel to sit in Ile-Ife
where the crisis occurred. He said that the governor had selected those that
know how to manage crisis, adding “we found them very appropriate for the
assignment”.
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