The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, CP Olushina Olukolu has called on residents in Iseyin Town to stay clear off violence and allow peace to reign in the town.
The Commissioner made this statement today 19th September at the State Police Command Headquarters, Eleyele Ibadan, during a Stakeholders Security meeting concerning disagreement between religious groups over Oro Festival in Iseyin.
The Iseyin traditional Oro worshippers, Muslim community and the Christian faithfuls signed an undertaken to put a stop to the conflict that often ensue amongst the religionists over ‘Oro’ Festival in Iseyin.
In his speech, The Special Adviser on security to the Oyo state governor, Mr. Fatai Owoseni said the meeting is on the directive of The Oyo state governor, engineer Seyi Makinde, to look into the boiling issue in Iseyin between the traditional Oro worshipers and the Muslim community.
Also speaking, the state commissioner of police, Shina Olukolu, said the meeting is not particularly meant to give handouts to the stakeholders on how to ensure peace in their area but to re-emphasize the need for tolerance and to ensure peace and tranquility reigns in their communities.
Olukolu expressed his disappointment on the brewing crisis in the town
” I am so sad and pained for calling this stakeholders meeting to address Cultural, traditional, and religion crisis which has the potential to snowball into a serious conflict that may disturb the peace of the state.
“It is established that it is the constitutional responsibilities of the police as the lead agency in internal security to protect lives and property albeit in the synergy with other sister security agencies who are also present here today.
“The brewing misunderstanding has entrapped all the communities in Iseyin axis, I wish to remind all of us that there is none who has the monopoly of violence.
Therefore I wish to admonish all the interested parties in these disputes to look back and use the hindsight to draw inspiration for peace and not to encourage violence all in the name of faith or working on behalf of our God.
The CP however noted that considering the level of socio economic development political sophistication and general knowledge in this area, I wish to appeal that religion should not be a basis of our division.
In his remark, the Aseyin of Iseyin land, Oba Abdulganiyu Adekunle Salau, said for the interest of all and sundry another meeting will be held in Iseyin town to take a second dispassionate look at the issue and proffer enduring solution to it.
The meeting was attended by a the stakeholders involved, such as the Aseyin of Iseyin , His Royal Highness, Oba Abdul Ganiyu Salaudeen, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Mrs. Funmilayo Orisabiyi, Commissioner of Women Affairs Mrs. Fausat Joke Saani, Hon. Babatunde Oduyoye, DCP, Attairu Issa, DCP. Abayomi Oladipo, The representative of Oro and Isese Worshipers in Iseyin, the Chief Imam of Iseyinland Abdul Hakeem Olajori, the representative of Christain Association of Nigeria Iseyin Rev. Christopher Olatunji Olugbade and others.
Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
