Akoko people in Ondo State decry marginalisation by state government

The four local council areas in Akoko parts of Ondo State staged a peaceful protest in Akure on Thursday against their “marginalisation’’ in the creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

Ondo State government plans to create 33 LCDAs out of the 18 local government areas and has allocated five of the LCDAs to the four council areas in Akoko.

Thursday’s protest was staged on the platform of Akoko Consultative Forum with leaders drawn from Akoko Northeast, Akoko Northwest, Akoko Southeast and Akoko Southwest council areas.

Leader of the forum, Pa Lawrence Rogbitan, told a news conference that the protest was against the creation of only five LCDAs in the area by the state government.

Going down memory lane, the octogenarian said: “when old Ondo State was created out of the defunct Western Region, Akoko was the second largest ethnic group after Ekiti.

“Akoko then had two local government councils – Akoko South and Akoko North.

“When Ekiti State was created out of the old Ondo State; Akoko became the largest single ethnic group in Ondo State, having four local government areas out of 18.

“Other ethnic groups making up the present Ondo State are Owo, Akure, Ondo, and Ile-Oluji/Odigbos, each having two local government areas.

“Others still are Ikale, Ilaje/Ijaw and Idanre/Ijare also having two local government areas each.

Pa Rogbitan lamented that in the current plan, Akoko, with 49 political wards and a population of 701,785, was given only five LCDAS.

He noted that Owo and Ose with a population of 366,401 and 23 political wards got eight LCDAS.

The octogenarian stressed that the state government should address the marginalisation of the people of Akoko, who he said are in the majority in the Ondo North senatorial district.

The protesters demanded the creation of additional four LCDAs in Akoko Northeast; five LCDAs each in Akoko Northwest and Akoko Southwest and three in Akoko Southeast council areas.

They hoisted placards some of which read: “Akoko must have 16 LCDAs’’; “Mr Governor or Acting Governor, be fair’’; “don’t sign 33 LCDAs bill into law.’’

Pa Rogbitan observed that aside the marginalisation in LCDA distribution, Ondo State government neglected roads in Akoko and was unfair in the recent upgrading of traditional rulers, which, he said, was skewed against Akoko.

The protesters demanded the upgrading of deserving traditional rulers in Akoko to Grade A as it was done in other zones.

They also requested Ondo State government to complete the Ikare-Ajowa Road, and resurface the Akungba-Oka-Isua-Ibilo and Owo-Ikare roads.