Imeko-Afon Indigenes Kick Against Neglect Of Political Appointment, Road Projects By Amosun, Abiodun's Administrations

Olutunde Aninkan

ABEOKUTA - Indigenes of Imeko-Afon local government area of Ogun state have expressed worry over consistent neglect of the council area for political appointment into boards and government ministries.

The indigenes under the Ibile Alliance group, lamented the political exclusion meted out to the people of the local government under Senator Ibikunle Amosun's eight years rule and Governor Dapo Abiodun's administration.

Addressing journalists in Abeokuta on Wednesday, the leader of the group, Olutunde Aninkan accused the government for deliberate marginalization and wicked neglect for consideration of projects and appointments into the State Executive Council.

Aninkan emphasized that the manipulative tendencies and unfair treatment of the people by Governor Amosun's government forced the people to support Prince Dapo Abiodun in 2019.

He, however, expressed disappointment with the state government under Prince Dapo Abiodun with the continuous neglect of the people.

He stressed that the continuous neglect of the local government with the submission of names of Commissioners-Designate to the Ogun State House of Assembly for screening without anyone chosen from Imeko-Afon has further made them worry if they are part of Ogun State.

Aninkan added that, the deplorable condition of Abeokuta-Ayetoro-Imeko road and Imeko-Oke-Agbede-Moriwi-Iwoye road which are major link roads deserve government attention to improve the economic prosperity of the state.

He called for urgent rehabilitation of Oke Agbede/Moriwi/Matale and Iwoye Jabata toad by the federal government, saying people of the local government can only access their various towns and villages through Ilara and Republic of Benin through Ilikimu-Dinrin-AKpotopku.

He, therefore, urged the governor to correct the imbalance in the political appointment and marginalization of the local government in the State Executive Council.

"First and foremost, we wish to strongly commend the leadership of the Governor and his high level of political dexterity demonstrated in steering the affairs of the State and all its various organs since his assumption of office, which, no doubt, has redefined governance in the Gateway State. 

"On that note, we salute his amiable guidance for the progressive strides he has so far made, while acknowledging and emphasizing that he is a great leader who has managed to gain people’s trust and respect with a large human sense that has inspired many and influenced lives since assumption of office. No doubt, having a special person like him as a Governor, therefore, is of great essence as he has proven to be a great professional, a seasoned administrator, a wonderful leader and also a great human being, willing to listen to different opinions and suggestions of other people in order to achieve improvements for the benefit of all and the good of the State in general. We pray all his dreams be fulfilled as he accomplishes all the goals he has outlined for the good of all.

"Going forward, we are gathered here to draw the attention of government to some worrisome political and social developments that keep challenging us to doubt our true indigeneship of the State. We are deeply worried over the evident shabby treatment the government of Ogun State has been giving to us since the last administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun. For eight years of Amosun's administration, regular preponderance of fictitious media sponsored claims of invisible projects and achievements in our local government rented the air. Our council was  deliberately singled out for marginalization and wickedly neglected for consideration of projects while appointments into the State Executive Council, Special Advisers and Chairmen of boards and parastatals became aberration in his sight. 

"However, these manipulative tendencies and unfair treatment of the then government made us, as a people, move enmass to support the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun with a view to finding succour and development for our people and the local government as a whole. It is now worrisome that the shade we ran to has exposed us to the sun that is much hotter and unconducive than we ever imagined.

"Nevertheless, our performing governor has, since assumption of office, reconstructed and repaired three Federal roads viz-a-viz Ijebu-Ode-Epe Road, Abeokuta-Sagamu interchange Road Atan-Lusada-Agbara Road, taking on the fourth now i.e Abeokuta-Sango-Ota Road. We plead with His Excellency to consider us too in Imeko-Afon Local Government as these roads are not only contibutory to improved economic prosperities of the State through smooth movement of goods and farm produce but also promote international trade and security.

"Let it be known today that, of peculiarity, are towns and villages in two wards of the local government i.e Oke Agbede/Moriwi/Matale and Iwoye/Jabata that have been completely cut off from the rest in the local government as the people now access their various towns and villages through Ilara and Republic of Benin i.e Ilara(Nigeria)-Ilikimu-Dinrin-Akpotopku(Benin Republic) - Jabata-Iwoye and then Oke Agbede. It will interest you to know that INEC and Census official will undertake same route to perform their statutory duties in those two wards. Are we still truly indigenes of Ogun State? How sure are we that our votes and figures would be safely guided and guarded to the INEC and National Population Commission headquarters? You will agree with me that bad road network gives flips to insecurity in our land subjecting our people to fear of survival."