By Adekola Afolabi
|
A non-political group, Akoko Consultative Forum (ACF), has appealed to the Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, to intervene and correct what it called aged-long cases of injustice and marginalisation of Akoko in the political space of the state.
The Forum used the occasion to commend Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for deeming it fit to create LCDAs in the state.
The President of the Forum, Pa Rogbitan Ibukun, who led other members of the forum to a press conference at the NUJ Press Centre, Akure, explained that Akokoland deserves 16 LCDAs and not nine given to it in the new Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) creation.
Pa Ibukun noted that Akokoland has what it takes in terms of size, population and necessary resources to have 16 LCDAs.
According to him, Akoko North East and Akoko North West should have four LCDAs each, while Akoko South East and Akoko South West should have three LCDAs and five LCDAs respectively.
ACF also demanded upgrading of deserving Obas to Grade ‘A’ in Akoko as it was done in other zones, and completion of Ikare- Ajowa road among other deplorable roads in the axis.
“When Ekiti State was created out of old Ondo State, Akoko became 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.
Former NLC Chairman in the state and member of the Forum, Comrade Momodu Braimoh, said the memos presented by the Forum to the State House of Assembly were not considered.