Akoko indigenes allege marginalisation over creation of LCDAs

Indigenes of Akoko land in the northern senatorial district of Ondo State, yesterday, kicked against the creation of just five local council development areas (LCDAs) in the region.

The indigenes, under the banner of Akoko Consultative Forum (ACF), converged on the Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to protest against what they described as marginalisation.

The protesters urged the state government to right the wrongs made in the creation of the LCDAs, stressing that Akoko has been the largest ethnic group in the state since the creation of Ekiti State.

Head of ACF, Lawrence Rogbitan, who spoke on behalf of the protesters, said: “When Ondo State was created out of the then Western Region, Akoko was the second largest ethnic group, having two local councils out of 18 councils for both Akoko and Ekiti, namely Akoko South and Akoko North.”

“When Ekiti State was created out of old Ondo State, Akoko became the largest single ethnic group, having four councils out of 18.”

Rogbitan added that Akoko land, with 49 political wards and a population of 701,785, was given only five LCDAs, while Owo and Ose, with a population of 366,401 and 23 political wards, got eight.

The protesters demanded the creation of an additional four LCDAs for Akoko North-East and North-West local councils, five LCDAs for Akoko South-West, and three for Akoko South-East council areas.

They also demanded the upgrading of deserving monarchs in Akoko to Grade A as it was done in other zones and requested the state government to complete the Ikare-Ajowa and interface on Akungba-Oka-Isua-Ibilo and Owo-Ikare roads.