Group Chides Ogun Govt. Over Alleged Marginalisation Of Imeko—Afon Local Government Area In Political Office Sharing, Infrastructure | Politics | Amebo Newspapers NG

The amalgamation of pressure groups in Imeko Afon local government area of Ogun State has hinted of the possibility  Nigeria losing part of its communities to the Republic of Benin as a result of perpetual neglect by the federal and Ogun state governments.

The group which named itself Ibile Alliance Amalgamation also chided the Ogun State government led by Prince Dapo Abiodun for alleged marginalisation of Imeko Afon local government area of the State ,in political office sharing and infrastructural development.

Spokesperson of the group,Tunde Aninkan expressed the views in Abeokuta while addressing a Press Conference held at Correspondent Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Isabo Abeokuta.

Aninkan alerted that while the federal and state governments have remained insensitive to the plight of the people of Imeko Afon,the republic of Benin has continued to make steady progress in Iwoye, a Nigeria/Benin Republic border town.

Benin Republic has extended its erection of electricity poles and construction of about 1.5 kilometre road,to Iwoye town, in Nigeria while the Nigerian  government has remained deaf, to yearnings and aspirations of its entire citizenry .

The group's spokesman explained that with the development on ground, the People of the area may have no option than to go with Benin Republic if there is the need for them to go with any country of their choice.

The Ibile Alliance explained that having carefully observed the development in the governance structure of Ogun State over the last seven years, the Ogun state government it observed that the state government has excluded them politically, describing the development as great injustice.

Though the group commended the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his high level political dexterity in steering the ship of the State since his assumption of office, it however expressed discomfiture over what it termed" some worrisome political and social developments" that keep challenging them to doubt their 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." the group posited.

"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 the governor's sight." it added.

The group, through its spokesman wondered if the àlleged  non-representation of Imeko/Afon in the governance of the state by the current and successive governments in the state,  was an act of omission or a deliberate act of commission with intent to marginalize when other 19 Local Governments have at least a representative or more in the State Executive Council leaving Imeko-Afon Local Government, since 2015, with zero opportunity to have either a Commissioner or a Special Adviser.

 "In this such an imbalance representation in the State Executive Council, how would our interest be protected when issues that affect the State are being discussed? We are very sure that government or Governor would not say that wants of capable and competent hands is our problem." the group queried.

The group added that it saddened the hearts of its members as they  continue to wallow in suffering and endangerment of their lives and properties as a result of bad road networks, contributing to the incessant security pervading their land.

"For instance, the Abeokuta-Ayetoro-Imeko road, which is the main artery to our local government and Imeko-Oke-Agbede-Moriwi-Iwoye Road are major link roads that deserve urgent Government attention and priority. We understand these are federal roads as they link the neighbouring country of Republic of Benin".

The group added that towns and villages in two wards of the local government i.e Oke Agbede/Moriwi/Matale and Iwoye/Jabata  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, adding that bad road network gives flips to insecurity in their land ,subjecting their people to fear of survival.

It also called for the immediate correction of the obvious imbalance in appointment and evident marginalization of Imeko/Afon in the State Executive Council and the urgent declaration of State of emergency on Abeokuta-Ayetoro-Imeko and  Imeko-Oke-Agbede-Moriwi-Iwoye Roads to address the untold hardship and incessant insecurity that have bedeviled the people of the area.