Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

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Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola has inaugurated a committee to resolve the lingering leadership tussle within the Benue community in the state.

Oyetola inaugurated the committee on Sunday during a meeting with the leaders of Benue indigenes in Osun state.

The governor directed the warring factions to withdraw all cases pending in court on the issue for peace to reign.

There have been crisis within the Benue community in Osun with two factions laying claim to its leadership.

Oyetola who was represented by his Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, stated Osun is a peaceful state and had given room for indigenes and non-indigenes to live in harmony.

The committee saddled with the responsibility to resolve the leadership crisis would be chaired by the Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Mr Sola Oladepo, Commissioner for Political matters and Intergovernmental relations, Mr Taiwo Akeju, would serve as the Vice chairman, while the Special Adviser on Security, Mrs Abiodun Ige, would serve as Secretary.

The two factions fighting over the leadership of the group would also nominate five persons each as their representatives in the committee.

Oyetola, while appealing to Benue community in the state to continue to support his peace-loving government, also urged them to support his reelection come July 16.

In their separate addresses, Oladepo, Akeju and Ige, appealed to the factions to unite and agree on a consensus leader for peaceful coexistence.

In his response, a factional leader of the group, Chief Audu Samson, appreciated the state’s government prompt intervention in the crisis.

Samson assured the governor of speedy amicable resolution to the crisis, adding that Benue community will support the governor’s reelection bid.

Also speaking, the leader of the second faction, Chief Augustine Tsor, described government’s intervention as a welcome development

“Osun State is a very peaceful state and we are happy that Oyetola is set to resolve our crisis because we believe in his government,” he stated.