A group, Yoruba Youth Socio-Cultural Association (YYSA), on Sunday called for peace among the warring communities in Osun State.
There have been waves of violence between Ilobu, Ifon-Osun, and Erin-Osun in Osun State.
The Osun State Coordinator of YYSA, Prince Sesan Opadoyin, made the call in a statement made available to The Guardian in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Opadoyin said no dispute is worth the blood of the people.
The youth leader urged the youths of Ilobu, Ifon-Osun, and Erin-Osun to reject violence and take a stand for peace, adding that they are the future and must not allow the mistakes of the past to define their destiny.
He said: “The recent wave of violence between Ilobu, Ifon-Osun, and Erin-Osun is heartbreaking and deeply troubling. As communities bound by history, culture, and even blood ties, we must ask ourselves: Is this the legacy we want to leave behind?
“The destruction of lives and properties, the displacement of innocent families, and the ongoing fear that has gripped these communities are unacceptable. No land, no boundary, no dispute is worth the blood of our people. It is time to end this cycle of violence and embrace a path of peace, dialogue, and mutual understanding.
“I, Prince Sesan Opadoyin (PSO), as the Osun State Coordinator for the Yoruba Youth Socio-Cultural Association (YYSA), call on all
relevant stakeholders, traditional rulers, community leaders, security agencies, and the government to take urgent, decisive, and lasting steps toward resolving this crisis. The solution is not in bullets or destruction but in justice, fairness, and genuine reconciliation.”
Opadoyin emphasised that the conflicts threatened the progress and development of the communities.
He said: “We must remember that these conflicts not only threaten the safety of our people but also undermine the progress and
development of Osun State. Businesses suffer, children are deprived of education, and families are torn apart. We cannot afford to continue on this destructive path.
“I urge the youths of Ilobu, Ifon-Osun, and Erin-Osun to reject violence and take a stand for peace. We are the future, and we must not allow the mistakes of the past to define our destiny.”
The YYSA leader also appealed to the government to take a pragmatic and unbiased intervention that prioritises security, justice, and reconciliation.
He added that perpetrators of violence must be held accountable, and genuine peace-building efforts must be initiated without favoritism or sentiment.
“To the government, I appeal for a pragmatic and unbiased intervention that prioritises security, justice, and reconciliation.
Perpetrators of violence must be held accountable, and genuine peace-building efforts must be initiated without favoritism or sentiment.
“Let us put an end to the pain. Let us choose dialogue over war, unity over division, and peace over destruction. Enough is enough. May peace return to our land,” he said.
