The former Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday assured the people of Offa and Erin-Ile communities that the setting up of a judicial commission of inquiry by the state government would do justice to all the grievances that led to the recent hostilities between the two towns.

He said that in the interim, the people of the two towns should continue to be patient and allow peace to reign in the affected towns for the desired socio-economic development of the areas to take place.

Saraki, who stated this in Offa and Erin-Ile communities during his sympathy visit to the royal fathers of the two towns at their palaces yesterday, said he was disturbed by the reoccurrence of the crisis, which, he said was not good for the image of the state.

According to him, "I was not happy when the crisis broke out between the two towns and immediately I returned from my Overseas trip, I decided to come and pay my condolence to you and to appeal to the two towns to allow peace to reign in your towns."

He said: "There is no development that could come up when there is crisis in any towns and that is why I am appealing to you to forget the past and allow the current efforts of the state government at addressing the issue once for all to come past."

"The state government is committed to the peace and tranquility of the two warring towns and all efforts capable of restoring peace to the affected towns would be pursued."

He said the people of the two towns should continue to "be patience and embrace peace as development could only come to them when there is peace."

"I will not relax until peace return to the two areas. The government has set up their panel. I will continue as outsider to work with the government so as to ensure justice is done on the issue. The incident concern us and I will do our best to resolve the matter once and for all," he said.

Responding at their different palaces, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye 11, and Elerin of Erin-Ile, Oba Abdulganiyu Ajibola Ibrahim, thanked Saraki for his concern for the two towns.

They assured the former governor that they would continue to persuade their people on the need to maintain peace in their towns so as to move the state forward.

Meanwhile, normalcy yesterday returned to the two warring towns as business activities and social activities picked up at different locations at Offa and Erin-Ile, after a week curfew imposed in the two towns following the hostilities that broke out between them.

A visit by THISDAY to Offa and Erin-Ile towns yesterday showed that the people of the affected towns were seen in good mood opened for businesses.

Banks, schools and markets closed down during the crisis were seen opened for businesses.

An indigene, Alhaji Abdulrasaq Bello, who spoke with THISDAY, said he was happy that normalcy returned to the two towns.

He, however, appealed to the government to continue to keep security operatives in the two towns pending the panel of inquiry set up by the state government would come out with its report.