February 4th 2013

Offa and Erinle communities’ Clashes; Avoidable and surmountable

CONDOLENCE
We extend our condolence to the families of those who lost their lives and properties at the recent unfortunate tragic violent communal clashes between hitherto peaceful ancient communities of Offa and Erinle of both Offa and Oyun Local Government Areas respectively of Kwara State. Conflicts are inherent in any society. The periodic implosions between Erinle and Offa with attendant wastages of precious irreplaceable lives and properties are definitely preventable, avoidable and surmountable .. ‘The resurgence of unnecessary artificial rivalry between the two neighboring towns must give way to age long brotherhood, common wealth and mutually rewarding cooperation that for centuries contributed to the growth and development of the two historic communities.
Offa and Erinle are blessed with respected vibrant enterprising people, traditional (first class chiefs) and political ruling classes as well as the business elite. These great communities must consciously p~omote the integration and inclusion of their ordinary folks. They must dismantle artificial barriers and false Berlin Walls and allow for freedom of good” people of the two communities as sanctioned by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. At a time President Goodluck Jonathan commendably flags off and leads the national celebration of a century long colonial amalgamation of both the South and North of Nigeria good people of Erinle and Offa must not severe age long bond of brotherhood and togetherness.

ILORIN EMIRATE EXAMPLE

Erinle and Offa communities must emulate the inclusive brotherhood and sustainable peace of Ilorin Emirate where identity crisis had long disappeared and local government administrations are based on convenient geography not. exclusion of other communities.

COMMENDATION
I commend Governor Abdul Fatai Ahmed of Kwara State for his prompt restoration of normalcy and for putting an end to further escalation. We also salute the state police Command for enforcing peace. It is also commendable that a judicial panel has been inaugurated by the state government to expose the causes of the latest mayhem with a view of identifying the perpetrators. There should not be any hiding place for merchants of deaths and murder in• a state of harmony which Kwara state is.

CAUTION
However as attractive as it might be, the state government should resist the temptation of making democratic institutions such as Local Government councils first casualties of communal violence. In the condition of crisis we need to deepen democracy and culture of dialogue which;• is only possible if we maintain and strengthen the capacity of LGAs. The Governor is hereby urged to kindly rethink the dissolution of Offa and Oyun local government councils. If democratically elected councils were so challenged in recent times, unelected sole administrators even risk compounding the problems the more precisely because sole administrators are unrepresentative and can hardly enjoin the confidence of the people in crisis. All Kwarans should indeed work for peace as a pre-condition for development.

Issa Aremu mni.
VICE PRESIDENT NIGERIA’LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC)