Osinbajo Commends Makinde, Calls For Peace Among Warring Parties

The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has commended the efforts of Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde and law enforcement agencies in dousing the tension that followed the clash between Yoruba and Hausa residents at Sasha area, Akinyele Local Government Area of Ibadan.

The Vice President, who spoke when he paid a condolence visit to the Jakande family in Ilupeju, Lagos, noted that Sasha market and its environs symbolise unity, and maintained that criminals must be dealt with according to the law and not an ethnic conflict.

He also sued for peace between Northern traders and the Southwest people

He said, “I have heard about the unfortunate mayhem and the tragic loss of lives at the Shasha market in the past few days.

“Shasha market has been a melting pot for traders bringing foodstuff from the North to the Southwest for decades.

“For decades traders from the North have done business with their brothers from the Southwest and they have lived in peace and even inter-married. Shasha is a place of unity.

“So when a disagreement arises between individuals or a criminal act is committed by one against the other we must ensure that we see it for what it is, a criminal act, which must be punished according to law. Not an ethnic conflict.

“Every Nigerian has a constitutional right to live, work and enjoy their lives in safety, peace under the law.

“It is the duty of government through the police and other law enforcement agencies to arrest and prosecute any person who commits a crime against a citizen of this nation. It is the role of the citizen to assist the police to identify the criminals. We must never take the law into our own hands if we do we will be promoting chaos, and a breakdown of law and order, and all of us especially the most vulnerable amongst us, will be at risk.

“I urge all community leaders to work together to preserve the brotherly co-existence that our people from different parts of the country have enjoyed in Shasha market for several decades.

“I commend the governor for his swift and decisive action and all the law enforcement agencies for their prompt intervention.”