House of Representatives member representing Yagba Federal Constituency, Sunday Karimi has stepped into the 20-year-old land dispute between Okunran, Okoloke, Isanlu-Esa and Egbe in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Karimi urged warring members of these communities to eschew violence and live in peace with one another.
At the meeting with traditional rulers, chiefs, community leaders and youths from Okunran, Okoloke and Isanlu-Esa held at the Okoloke Town Hall, the legislator said there was no alternative to peace and harmony.
He said land ownership, which was at the root of the recent communal clashes, could have been better solved through constitutional means.
Karimi said: “We have inter-married. We have shared so many things together and this has aided the development that we have witnessed in the various communities. One thing that is certain is that, whatever we have, whatever we gather in this world, the Bible makes it clear that everything is vanity.
“Be it land, be it vehicles, be it whatever, we will leave them one day and go. Why then must we fight over land? We did not create the land. We met the land there”.
The Obalohun of Okoloke, Oba James Dada Ilufemiloye, praised Karimi’s peace move and promised that the leaders would work for peace.
The monarch said: “We are indeed encouraged by your visit to us today. You have demonstrated a high level of courage as a responsible leader with your coming here to talk to us. We have heard you and we want to promise you that we will work for peace”.
