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The Imeko-Afon Youths and Community Development Association has decried the continuous neglect of its local government by Ogun State government.
The group, under aegis of Ibile Alliance of Imeko-Afon Local Government made this known at a news conference on Wednesday in Abeokuta.
Addressing journalists, the spokesperson of the group, Mr Olutunde Aninkan expressed concern over their political exclusion by successive governments.
Aninkan said that the call was not to hound or embarrass the state government but to check the ugly trend which, according to him, had gone on for more than seven years.
According to him, Ibile Alliance is an amalgamation of pressure groups and community based associations of Imeko-Afon Local Government origin.
Aninkan added that they are concerned with Imeko-Afon’s progress and development through community service and effective collaborations with government and its institutions.
“We are gathered here to draw the attention of government to some worrisome political and social developments that keep challenging us to doubt our 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 Gov. 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.
“Our council was deliberately singled out for marginalisation and wickedly neglected for consideration of projects.
“Appointments into the State Executive Council, appointments as special advisers and chairmen of boards and parastatals became an aberration in his sight,” Aninkan alleged.
The spokesman however, commended Gov. Dapo Abiodun for his political foresight since assumption of office but expressed worry that the local government might be facing the same treatment as before.
He thanked Abiodun for the ongoing construction of the Oke-Ola road, renovation of health centers and secondary schools in Imeko.
Aninkan decried the exclusion of the indigenes in the just submitted list of commissioner – nominees, saying if this was not checked, the trend might continue.
“These manipulative tendencies and unfair treatment of the then government made us, as a people, to move enmasse to support the administration of Gov. Dapo Abiodun.
“This is with a view to finding succour and development for our people and the local government as a whole.
“It is now worrisome that the shade we ran to, has exposed us to the sun that is much hotter and inconducive than we ever imagined,” he said.
Aninkan appealed to the state government to correct the “obvious imbalance” in appointments and evident marginalisation in the state executive council.
He urged the government to declare a state of emergency on the Abeokuta -Ayetoro -Imeko and Imeko- Oke-Agbede -Moriwi -Iwoye roads to address the hardship and incessant insecurity on the people.
“We are hopeful that His Excellency, the governor will see this exercise as the only available medium to reach out to him after exhaustive attempts of writing and seeking an audience with him proved abortive.
“It is our belief that he will rise to the occasion, believing that doing so will restore our confidence in his government.
“We believe this will also give us a sense of belonging as equal stakeholders in the affairs of the state as enthused in his inclusive governance mantra of “Building Our Future Together,” Aninkan said. (NAN)
