LCDAs: Public hearing sparks uproar in Ondo

The Public Hearing on creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Ondo state, on Thursday sparked row and controversy as the Ijaw nationals in the state protested over the ceding of Ijaw communities of Ese-Odo to Ilaje Local Government.

Similarly, the two communities of Akure and Isikan in the present Akure South local government area, differed on the creation of Akure West LCDA with headquarters in Isikan which almost degenerated into fisticuffs.

Trouble started when the representatives of Akure South made their presentation before the panel and the traditional ruler of Isikan community, the Iralepo of Isikan, Oba Oluwagbemiga Odofin- Adimula, was prevented from speaking by some Akure indigenes, saying they have spoken with one voice.

However, after several minutes of uproar, the Isikan monarch was allowed to make a brief presentation, commending the state government over the creation of Akure west LCDA but advocated that the name should be changed to Isikan or Isokan LCDA.

Oba Odofin- Adimula noted that the LCDA will bring development to the people of the community and bring local government closer to the people.

But the Akure people demanded special status and more LCDAs being the state capital, couple with their population, while they frowned over the location of the LCDA headquarters.

Meanwhile, the Ijaw communities who invaded the venue of the sitting as early as 8am protested over what they termed political manipulations which were allowed to prevail over objectivity in creation of the LCDAs.

Armed with placards of various inscription, such as ODSG Stop Pushing Us to the wall, Arogbo Ijaws demand for Ukparama LCDA, We Don’t Want Repeat of Ijaw/Ilaje crisis, ODSG allow us to breathe stop suffocating us, Lucky Aiyedatiwa is a Replica of King Nebuchadnezza among others.

The people kicked against the ceding of two Ijaw wards and communities to Ilaje local government, saying the development will reignite the Ijaw/Ilaje war of early 2000.

Speaking on behalf of the people, the Kalasuwe of Ijaw-Apoi, Oba (Prof.) Sunday Adejimola Amuseghan, said “We are here to make our observations known to the whole world, particularly to Ondo state government regarding the creation of LCDAs in the state.

“We the Ijaw people in Ondo State, we have been marginalized for a long time but we are thanking God that the time for God to rescue us to to bring glory of the Ijaw back to us and we are her to say that to the whole world.

“In Ese-Odo, we share boundaries with Ilajes and Ikales, but we are here to tell the whole world that we will not cede one inch of our land to either Ikales or Ilajes because we are special people in Ondo State.

“We have bitumen and petroleum resources and that I’d why the Constitution and the law establishing NDDC and OSOPADEC recognise we the Ese-Odo as oil producing local government and because of this position, we should be given special consideration by splitting Ese-Odo in more LCDAs.

“We are the fourth ethnic group in Nigeria and that is why Bayelsa was given to us because of the special position and geographical area we occupy in Nigeria. So, we should be given more LCDAs.

“We will never concede one inch of our land to either Ikales or Ilajes. There is a new Ondo State map ceding our communities to Ilaje and Irele. Whether through or not the government of Ondo State must withdraw that map with immediate effect.

“We are peace loving people, we want to live in peace with other nationalities in Nigeria and we pray they too should consider this and live with peace with us”

Also speaking, the Agadagba of Arogbo-Ijaw land, Zaccheaus Doubra, urged the state government to sustain the existing peace between Ijaw and the Ilajes.

Represented by the Chairman, Ijaw National Congress, Bonsuwei Ominidougha, said ” We are asking for more LCDAs and we say total no to the ceding of our land to Ilaje and Irele Local Governments.

“Ijaw people are peace loving and we are calling on Ondo State government or anybody that is joining them that they must stop that nonsense.

“Ijaw man will not agree for anybody and INC will fight this course, the Arogbo man will fight the course, the Apoi people will fight the same cause to make sure that one inch of our land will never be ceded to anybody.

“We are giving them 21 days ultimatum to withdraw that map. We don’t want to fight with anybody because it was failure of leadership the other time that caused the Ijaw-Ilaje crisis.

“We don’t want that one to repeat itself, therefore we are calling on Ondo State government and even our neighbour’s that nobody should try it because Ijaw man will never agree for anybody.

Speaking during the sitting, the Speaker of House of Assembly, Rt.Hon.Olamide Oladiji, said the sitting became necessary to deliberate on the document that will finally give credence to the creation of new LCDAs in the state.

Oladiji who noted that the constitution of the country gives room to state government to create LCDAs subject to ratification of the state Assembly and commended the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, for towing the line of other south west states.

According to him, the development fast- track development at the grassroot and ensure sustainable development but warned communities against creating tension in their various areas.

The Speaker warned that the state government would not hesitate to cancel the creation of any LCDA in any of the community or local government areas where there is crisis or court injunctions.

He said, “As much as we know as a matter of fact that it is not unexpected of community leaders to express their grievances and concerns about the geographical composition, nomenclature and location of headquarters of the LCDAS, so much more, we do need to know that our agitation and the “push” for the realization of our interests or requests must be done with caution (devoid of violence).

“In whatever we do today, we should be mindful of the fact that we do them in the eyes of the global community.

“Thus, let me state without mincing words, that the Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu led administration in Ondo State will not hesitate to cancel or suspend the creation of Local Council Development Areas in any community or Local Government areas where there is crisis or court injunctions.

“To be forewarned is to be forearmed, and to say anything less than the foregoing, is to distort reality.