By Mojisola Oladele
Stakeholders have emphasised the urgent need to prevent communal conflicts to ensure sustainable development across Nigeria.
This call to action was central to discussions at a public hearing on the Osun State Crisis, Communal Management, and Peace Building Bill, 2025, held at the Osun State House of Assembly (OSHA) Complex in Osogbo.
Declaring the event open, OSHA Speaker, Prince Adewale Egbedun, underscored the significance of the bill, stating that the public hearing was crucial for achieving inclusive and well-considered legislation.
“The importance of this bill cannot be overstated,” he said.
In his remarks, Osun State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwole Jimi-Bada, represented by Mr. Kayode Titiloye, confirmed that the bill had undergone rigorous scrutiny to ensure its provisions align with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Mr Jimi-Bada commended the Osun State House of Assembly and the bill’s sponsor, the member representing Obokun State Constituency, Prince Adewunmi Adeyemi, for their efforts.
Contributing to the discourse, Mr. Segun Abifarin, representing the Osun State Commissioner of Police, urged citizens to prioritise dialogue over violence.
Mr Abifarin warned that communal crises not only hinder development but also impose significant financial burdens on governments tasked with conflict resolution.
The leader of a non-governmental organisation, Insight Initiative for Community and Social Development, Mr. Jare Tiamiyu, called on the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to hold media houses accountable for misinformation that could escalate tensions.
“Irresponsible reporting can fuel societal conflicts,” Mr Tiamiyu noted.
Earlier, the bill’s sponsor, Prince Adewunmi Adeyemi, stressed the importance of collective action in preventing communal strife.
“All hands must be on deck to ensure lasting peace,” he asserted.
Other notable attendees included Chairman of Egbe Idagbasoke Ipinle Osun, Alhaji Agbajelola Salam, and Senior Publicity Adviser to the Governor on Grassroot Engagement, Mr. Adetunji Ajala, among others.
Edited by Maxwell Oyekunle
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