Various groups in Ago-Are have condemned moves by the Are of Ago-Are, Oba Abodunrin Kofoworola to relocate the community kraal despite the directive of the state government that the move should be halted.
The groups made the condemnation in a communique issued at the end of a stakeholders meeting held in Ago-Are on Friday.
They maintained that the steps the monarch is taking is not only illegal but also capable of breaching the peace and orderliness in the town.
They called on various stakeholders at all levels to take necessary actions to put a stop to the move by the monarch adding that residents should maintain maximum patience to ensure peace and orderliness in the community.
The communique, which was signed by Alhaji Abdulkareem Abdulazeez, the Chairman, Isokan Ilu Ago-Are Development Union, read in parts:
“We commend the Oyo State Government under the able leadership of His Excellency, Engineer Oluseyi Makinde, for its forthrightness, fairness and neutrality in the resolution of Community issues.
“However, the meeting condemns the move by the Are of Ago-Area, Oba Abodunrin Kofoworola to unilaterally relocate the Community Kraal from the present location without considering the negative economic effects on the people of Ago-Are community despite the directive of the Oyo State Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and rural development directing that the planned movement of the Kraal be halted.
” The meeting notes that the recent clearing of a new site for the Community Kraal and holding of a Prayer Session at the said site by the Are of Ago-Are is a flagrant disobedience to the directive of the State Government and one that is capable of causing a breach of the peace, law and order in the Community.
“The Atisbo South Local Council Development Authority under the leadership of the Caretaker Chairman of the Atisbo South Local Council Development Authority, Honourable Chief Makanjuola Ayoola Joe, is hereby charged to promptly give effect to the State Government Circular directing the stoppage of the planned relocation of the Kraal by the Are of Ago-Are from the present location to a new location, as doing otherwise would amount to a dereliction of duty capable of leading to a breach of the peace in the community.
“The Police and other security agencies are also charged to take steps to stop the illegality of the Are of Ago-Are, who has decided to purportedly and unilaterally relocate the community Kraal from its present location and without considering the implications of such moves for the peace, security and economy of Ago-Are community.
“The joint staStholders at the meeting calls on the State Government, the Atisbo Local Government; the Atisbo South LCDA, the Police and other Security Agencies as well as other well-meaning Individuals and Groups to rein in the Are of Ago-Are to desist from acts capable of causing breach of peace and refrain from attempting to relocate the Kraal from its present location as such action will be stoutly rejected using all legal means.
“We also call on all the people of Ago-Are, both indigenes and non-indigenes to eschew all acts capable of breaching the peace and to exhibit maximum patience in the midst of provocations, while trusting the relevant authorities to take appropriate action.”
