Ife Mayhem: Osun Obas appeal to media on moderation
Traditional rulers in Osun State under the aegis of the Osun Divisional Conference of Obas today appealed to journalists to restrain themselves from provocative reporting on the crisis that happened recently between the Hausa and Yoruba community in Ile-Ife.
The appeal was contained in a communiqué signed by the Deputy Chairman of the Osun Council of Obas, Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Kayode and the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Rasheed Olabomi which was made available to journalists in Osogbo on Monday after an emergency meeting of the Obas on "Security and Peaceful co-existence between Yoruba and Hausa community" held at the Ataoja of Osogbo'.
According to the communiqué, "Conference of Obas condemns the recent conflict which saw some Yorubas and the Hausa community in Ile Ifee engaging in clash leading to loss of lives and properties.
"Obas observe that long standing and inter-twined relationship between the Hausas and Yorubas in Ile-ife is such that mutual respect and pursuance of peaceful co-existence should be the cardinal principal of all especially at our market places.
"Conference admonishes the Press to stop sensational reportage on the Electronic, Print and Social media. We have had enough of these comments which do more harm than good on the crisis. What we desire is peace and good inter-relationship.
"Conference frowns at the role of the market leaders from the two sides who were not very fast in reporting the matter to the Ooni's palace, a step which would have prevented the crisis.
"The Obas pray to Almighty God to grant the souls of the lives lost external bliss, restore the health of the injured, and raise the fortunes of those who lost their valuable properties.
"Conference assures all Hausa and other non- yorubas in the state of Osun of their safety. They should go about their business activities and avoid taking laws into their hands. They should report any challenge they have to traditional rulers where they reside and do all the needful to be law abiding.
"The Obas express profound appreciation to Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, the governor state of Osun and Alayeluwa Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II whose timely intervention prevented the crisis from getting worse.
"Conference urges the people of the state to be security conscious. Conference urges all Obas to be vigilant while security operatives are admonished to adopt the policy of crime prevention at all times because the rate at which our youths take hard drugs especially Marijuanah which may be the cause of the cases of criminality in the state is worrisome.”