Offa Peace Moves Threatened

This Day (Lagos)
NEWS
January 5, 2004
Posted to the web January 5, 2004

By Ayodeji Fashikun
Ilorin
Offa Descendants Union (ODU), the efforts of Professor Kayode Oyediran
committee put inplace by the charged with the job on finding a lasting solution
to the crisis which had engulfed the town for sometimes now, may be threatened
going due to the emergence of a plethora of peace committees.
THISDAY checks revealed that two other social clubs in the town had set up
their own parallel committees to the one set up by the ODU a day after
Christmas, a situation which may duplicate the peace efforts uplicated and
probably turn it to child's play.
Another group, the Offa Club 80, made up some eminent citizens of the troubled
community have set up its own committee, saddled with the responsibilities of
meeting the aggrieved parties and securing their commitment to peace.
Adressing a Press Conference yesterday at the Press Centre in Ilorin his
president, the Group Captain Olayiwola Kolawole (rtd.), who is said "the spirit
of community development in a peaceful atmosphere must not be allowed to die
because of these unnecessary wranglings in whatever shape or form, be it
religious, politics or tradition."
According to him, "Offa Club 80 is not unmindful of the various pressure groups
clamouring for peaceful co-existence in Offa. The recently inaugurated seven-
man committee under the chairmanship of highly respected Professor Kayode
Oyediran is a welcome development.
"Offa crisis is an internal one which the Offa community and especially the
enlightened citizens of Offa can handle effectively. We appeal to all external
forces wishing to interfere in the internal affairs of Offa, which is basically
a family affair, in whatever form, be it religious, political or traditional,
to please allow us to resolve our differences the way we have always been doing
in the past."
When probed for the root cause of the crisis, Kolawole said "the choice of who
becomes the Chief Imam of Offa, which is not our primary concern as we won't
recommend one, is there. Our pain is the fact that the Ed-el fitri prayers
could not be done at the approved ground.
"We are disturbed that Juma'at prayers could no more hold in the Offa Central
mosque. It has been under lock and key. Twice, the state's Grand Khadi had to
come and lead juma'at prayers. We are not trading blames", he said.
He promised to intervene to see that we get the required peace before the next
Ed-el Kabir. We are complementing the efforts of the Oyediran committee.
Prayers should be said in the appropriate places as at when due and the freedom
to worship must be respected by all."

   

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