The people of Oru in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, under the auspices of Oru People’s Development Council, have pleaded with the state government to wade into a boundary dispute between them and their neighbours, the Ago-Iwoye community.

The spokesman for Oru community, Gboyega Adepitan, said this on Monday during a press briefing held in the town over the dispute.

Adepitan, who spoke in the presence of the Oloru of Oru, Oba Olufemi Adebanjo, and the Chairman of the Council, Prof Olu Olusanya, said the disputed land might lead to communal crisis if the government did not come in on time.

He claimed that the government had refused to take appropriate steps on the matter which had been going on for 50 years.

Adepitan said, “The recent provocation by erecting a signboard captioned as Ago-Iwoye on Oru land has triggered potential community clash.

“The deliberate silence of the government on our letters has given the leeway to law breakers to foment trouble, which is provocative to us.

“There is no way that the Ogun State Government will not be held responsible and accountable for any ensuing crises if not addressed immediately.

“This is part of good governance without showing favour or fear to any section of the state.

“The boundary dispute between Oru and Ago-Iwoye is over five decades now. Despite the various findings of the Federal Military Government Commission and Ogun State Government Commissions and Tribunal on January 14, 1986; the Order of Mandamus of May 8, 1991 and the Ogun State Government Gazette No 2 vol 19 of January 13, 1994; the Ogun State Government has refused to take appropriate action on them.”

The state Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, who is in charge of boundaries in the state, had yet to respond to the message sent to her mobile phone as of the time of filing this report.