Resist politicians’ attempt to cause chaos, experts tell Osun youths

Youths from Ilobu, Ifon and Erin-Osun communities in Osun State have been advised to resist attempts by politicians who may want to exploit the increase in political activities to return them to warpath.

The advice was given by a panel of experts at the three-day training on conflict resolution, mediation, non-violent communication and civic advocacy held in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

A statement signed by Farida Igbayilola, obtained in Osogbo on Friday, stated that the workshop was organised by Future Builders Initiative in partnership with Peace Education Advocacy and Climate Action for Development with the support from the German Federal Foreign Office through the IFA Zivik funding programme, had in attendance selected youths from the three communities.

Online reports that Ifon, Ilobu and Erin-Osun communities have been engaging in violent clashes caused by boundary disputes.

In the latest clashes that involved the communities, lives were lost and properties destroyed, which forced the state government to impose restrictions of movement in the two affected local government areas.

Addressing the participants at the training, a facilitator, Mr Wasiu Adebiyi, urged youths in the three communities to be wary of antics of politicians who may hide behind the increase in political activities to return hostilities to the local government areas.

“Politically, we all know that political periods are usually associated with violence, conflict and maybe disagreement. So I want to encourage youths in Ifon, Erin and Ilobu to be very careful during this coming period because their town is already volatile.

Any push can spark a negative reaction within the town. The youths should try to be future leaders and should not let politicians use them to cause havoc in their town. They should know that after the election, the towns will remain and whatever havoc they cause, they will be suffering it even after the election,” Adebiyi warned.

Speaking further, Adebiyi noted the Osun government’s efforts to resolve communal crises caused by boundary disputes in the areas, but observed that youths who were active participants in the conflicts were not deeply involved in the resolution of the issues that caused the crises.

He said those fuelling the crisis in the three communities were making use of the youth to cause mayhem, adding that the government had to engage and empower the younger residents of the towns to discourage them from engaging in violence.

“For the past maybe seven to eight years, the government has been trying to solve the problem through the elders and I think they left behind the larger percentage of people that are very instrumental to this conflict and violence, which are the youth.

“The youth have not been fully captured in this reconciliation process by the government. So I believe the government should try to incorporate youth into their peaceful co-existence agenda.

“Youths are the ones the elders are using to cause conflict and violence within those towns. But if they are well informed, if they know the gravity of the harm, of the hazard that the action can lead to in those towns, they will become a change agent and they will serve as a paradigm shift for peaceful co-existence among their people,” he further said.

Commending the organisers, Adebiyi said the training would enhance the knowledge of the participants in conflict resolution and peaceful coexistence.

In his remarks, the Executive Director, Peace Education Advocacy and Climate Action for Development, Olawale Akinremi, said the organisers would further engage stakeholders in the three communities on how to find a lasting peace after the training.

Culled from punch