Akoko leaders protest alleged marginalisation, demand 16 LCDAs -

The recently created 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), announced by the Ondo State government has been punctured by leaders of the four Local Governments from the Akoko region of the state.

The leaders under the auspices of Akoko Consultative Forum (ACF), stormed the press centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Akure, on Thursday to register their displeasure over the creation of only five LCDAs from the existing four Local Government Areas in the Akoko region.

The ACF, led by its octogenarian leader, Pa Lawrence Ibukun Rogbitan, noted that Akoko being the largest ethnic group in the state must be given 16 LCDAs in the interest of justice and fairness.

The protesters were armed with placards with different inscriptions including “Akoko must have 16 LCDA”, “Mr Governor, Acting Governor, be fair” “Don’t sign 33 LCDA bill into law” “No to injustice” and “Akoko say no to 33 demand 42”.

The protesters urged the state government to address the marginalisation of their people from Akoko region, who they said are in the majority in the Ondo North senatorial district.

According to Pa Rogbitan: “When Ondo State was created out of the then Western Region, Akoko was the second largest ethnic group after Ekiti, having two Local Government Councils out of 18 Local Governments for both Akoko and Ekiti, namely Akoko South and Akoko North.

“When Ekiti State was created out of old Ondo State, Akoko became the largest single ethnic group in Ondo State, having four Local Government Areas out of eighteen.

“Other ethnic groups making up the present Ondo State are, the Owos, two Local Government Areas, the Akures, two Local Government Areas, the Ondos two Local Government Areas, the Ileluji/Odigbos, two Local Government Areas, the Ikales, two Local Government Areas, the Ilaje/Ijaw, two Local Government Areas and the Idanre/Ijares, two Local Government Areas.”

He noted that Akokos with 49 political wards and a population of 701,785 were given only five LCDAS, while Owo and Ose with a 366,401 population and 23 political wards got eight LCDAS.

The protesters demanded the creation of an additional four LCDAs for Akoko Northeast, and Northwest local governments, five LCDAs for Akoko Southwest and three for Akoko Southeast council areas.

Aside from the marginalisation noted in the recently announced LCDAs, the protesters accused the state government of neglecting many roads in Akokoland. They also pointed out issues of unfair treatment in the upgraded of Obaship positions in the state in recent times amongst others.

Members of the ACF demanded the upgrading of deserving monarchs in Akoko to Grade A as it was done in other zones and requested the state government to complete the Ikare -Ajowa, and interface on Akungba- Oka – Isua – Ibilo and Owo-Ikare roads.

They urged indigenes of the area to remain calm, hoping justice would be served in the marginalisation of the people from the region.

Read full text of the Press Statement below:

AKOKO PEOPLE AWAKE AND FIGHT AGED-LONG CASES OF INJUSTICE AND MARGINALIZATION OF AKOKO IN THE POLITICAL SPACE OF ONDO STATE

BEING TEXT OF PRESS CONFERENCE DELIVERED BY THE PRESIDENT OF AKOKO CONSULTATIVE FORUM (ACF), PA ROGBITAN LAWRENCE IBUKUN AT NUJ PRESS CENTRE, ALAGBAKA – AKURE ON 31st August, 2023.

GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS,

On behalf of the entire sons and daughters of Akoko home and abroad, the National Leadership of Akoko Consultatative Forum (ACF) with our teeming members gathered here to express our views to Ondo State government and the entire world at large numerous cases of Injustice, Marginalization and Oppression of our People and to say NO to such forthwith.

We hereby call out our people to ‘AWAKE AND FIGHT AGED-LONG CASES OF INJUSTICE AND MARGINALIZATION OF AKOKO IN THE POLITICAL SPACE OF ONDO STATE HISTORICAL ANTECEDENT

When Ondo State was created out of the then Western Region, Akoko was the second largest ethnic group after Ekiti, having two Local Government Councils out of eighteen (18) Local Government for both Akoko and Ekiti, namely Akoko South and Akoko North.

When Ekiti State was created out of old Ondo State, Akoko become the largest single ethnic group in Ondo State, having four (4) Local Government Areas out of eighteen (18).

Other ethnic groups making up the present Ondo State are, the Owos, two (2) Local Government Areas, the Akures, two (2) Local Government Areas, the Ondos two (2) Local Government Areas, the Ileluji/Odigbos, two (2) Local Government Areas, the Ikales, two (2) Local Government Areas, the Ilaje/Ijaw, two (2) Local Government Areas and the Idanre/Ijares, two (2) Local Government Areas.

SIZE AND POPULATION:

Akoko is made up of four (4) Local Government Areas Viz :

(a) Akoko North East LGA with 13 political Wards

(b) Akoko North West with 10 political Ward

(d) Akoko South West with 15 political Wards.

As at 2006 which is still the current Census figure that is recognized in Nigeria, the population of the four (4) Akoko Local Government Areas are as follows:

Akoko North East LGA is 179,092

Akoko North West LGA is 211,867.

Akoko South East is 82,443

Akoko South West is 228,383

Total is 701, 785

While Ose was 144,139

And Owo was 222,262

Total Owo and Ose = 366,401.

MAJOR REQUIREMENT FOR THE CREATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

A major requirement is population and in Nigeria, 1976 Local Government Reform identified the benchmark as between 150,000-800,000 people per Local Government.

LOPSIDEDNESS IN THE CREATION OF 33 LCDAS IN ONDO STATE AS IT AFFECTS

ONDO NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT

The four (4) Akoko LGAs were allocated Nine (9) LCDAs while Owo and Ose with only two (2) LGAs were allocated Eight (8) LCDAs which implies:

2 is equal to 8, and

4 is equal to 9!

What a case of Injustice?

Population wise, according to 2006 Census figure,

(a) Owo LGA has a population of 218,886 and

(b) Ose has a population of 144,901. The total population of Owo and Ose is 363,787 whereas the total population of the 4 Akokos is 701,113.

Gentlemen of the Press, the implication and intending fallout of the purported exercise is aimed at subjugating, marginalizing and killing Akoko politically and put the Akokos in perpetual bondage in the scheme of things compare to Owo and Ose within the same Ondo North Senatorial District.

We are bold to say capital NO. This is not acceptable to Akokos. Enough is Enough! O to ge!!

OTHER IDENTIFIED AREAS OF UNFAIR TREATMENT OF AKOKOS include but not limited to:

(a) Ondo State government’s neglect of our ROADS in Akokoland

(b) unfairness in the upgraded Obaship position in Ondo State in recent time amongst others.

OUR DEMANDS

1 . As much as we support Ondo State government’s vision and mission to create new LCDAs in Ondo State , we demand for 16 LCDAs in Akoko as follows:

(a) Akoko North East – 4 LCDAs

(b) Akoko North West – 4 LCDAs

(d) Akoko South West – 5 LCDAs

2 . Requesting Ondo State government to complete Ikare – Ajowa Road and interface on Akungba- Oka – Ishua – Ibilo Road . Also, Owo-Ikare Road requires Ondo State government’s intervention.

3. Upgrading of our deserving Obas in Akoko to Grade A as it was done in other zones.

CONCLUSION:

We urge our sons and daughters in government to continue to do their work diligently as we

are noted for and we urge our people at home to remain calm until JUSTICE is seen to have been done in our case.

Ondo State belong to all of us and we shall strive harder to lift her up even at the face of provocation.

Thanks and God bless you all.

Signed:

PA ROGBITAN LAWRENCE IBUKUN

PRESIDENT

MR BENSON DADA

SECRETARY