The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Oluwole Oke, has expressed grief over the tragic violence that erupted in Esa Oke, Osun State, on Monday, resulting in the loss of lives and injuries to members of the community.
A statement released by the ๐ฃ๐๐ฏ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐, ๐๐ท๐ฒ๐๐ฎ ๐ก๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ต ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ, Hon. Oke commended security operatives for their swift intervention, which curtailed further escalation of the crisis.
The statement partly read, โWe owe gratitude to our security agencies for their prompt and decisive action.
โThe same blood flows in all of us. Violence is never justified, as a community and a large family, we must stop this senseless violence.โ
He stressed the imperative of identifying and prosecuting perpetrators under the law, calling for an impartial investigation into both the immediate and underlying causes of the incident.
โJustice must prevail for the victims and their familiesโ, the lawmaker asserted.
Extending condolences to the bereaved families and those injured, Oke stated, โI share in their grief. These losses are monumental for Esa-Oke and Osun State.โ
He, however, called for calm and restraint, emphasising the need for peace while awaiting decisive government action at the State and Federal levels.
He further advised aggrieved parties to adhere to lawful channels for resolving disputes, stating, โRather than resorting to violence, all stakeholders must follow due process in matters of chieftaincy and traditional leadership.โ
He encouraged aggrieved parties to make appeals to the governor or seek legal redress through the courts if necessary, stressing that โViolence or self-help is never an option.โ
Additionally, Hon. Oke called for the immediate release of individuals unjustly detained during the crisis and urged authorities to provide free medical treatment for the injured.
Reaffirming his commitment to his constituents, Hon. Oke concluded, โNo life should be lost needlessly. Together, we must build a future where every life is cherished, and communities thrive in peace and harmony.โ
Punch/ Naomi Akinkunle
