Ondo youths reject Igbo politician as council caretaker

This past Saturday, young individuals from the Odigbo Local Government Area in Ondo State took to the streets to voice their opposition to an alleged scheme by certain individuals within the state government. The scheme reportedly aimed to appoint Mrs. Eucharia Nwamara as the inaugural chairperson of the recently established Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the region.

Gathering at the town’s palace, the Odigbo youths claimed that influential figures within Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s administration were orchestrating the imposition of Nwamara, hailing from Imo State, upon them. The protestors specifically asserted that Nwamara is connected to Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the governor’s wife, and her Igbo ethnicity. They expressed their strong opposition to this plan to impose Nwamara as the new LCDA’s chairperson.

A participant in the protest and a community leader named Mr. Femi Olafumiloye conveyed that appointing an unfamiliar Igbo figure as the initial caretaker chairperson of the LCDA was a matter of great concern. He fervently pleaded for a reconsideration of this decision, advocating for a local candidate to assume the role instead. Olafumiloye questioned how an Igbo individual could effectively communicate with their community.

Another protester, identifying himself as Adeyemi, labeled the alleged imposition as an anomaly within the community’s political landscape. He declared that the residents would not tolerate such an imposition. Adeyemi emphasized that the community’s king should not be subservient to an outsider’s directives, stressing that the opposition to this decision was a just cause worth fighting for.

Ondo youths reject Igbo politician as council caretaker

However, a former member of the House of Representatives and a native of the community, Mr. Mayowa Akinfolarin, called for calm among the protesting youths. He assured them that the situation would be resolved through peaceful means, drawing upon the history of maintaining peace in their domain.

The monarch of Odigbo Kingdom, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, advised the young protesters to lay down their weapons and also urged the government to reconsider their choice.

In response, Nwamara, when contacted, claimed to be unaware of the protests. She emphasized her long-standing residency in Odigbo for over 35 years and expressed her commitment to community development. She brushed off the rumors and noted her political aspirations as part of life’s opportunities.

Last week, the state House of Assembly officially passed the LCDA Bill into law, resulting in the creation of the new LCDAs from the existing 18 local governments in the state.