Prominent stakeholders and other indigenes of Ife-North Local Government Area of Osun State have decried agelong marginalisation and lack of dividends of democracy, saying the council has never produced any meaningful political office holders since its creation about 37 years ago.

The concerned stakeholders of the local government which include youth representatives, student leaders, and union executives, said towns and communities in the council have been relegated and deprived of amenities that other parts of the state have been enjoying.

Speaking on behalf of the council during a media briefing in Ipetumodu on Thursday, Bolaji Olabode, the chairman of the Coalition and Akinnibi Miftahudeen, its Secretary, claimed that the LGA has been rendered to a “third-class status” among its federal constituents, stating that “this system has tacitly rendered our people incapable of taking on leading roles, particularly within the political space of our federal constituency and, indeed, Osun State at large.”

They expressed surprise that despite their huge numerical voting strengths, the council has not been rewarded, adding that none of its sons and daughters has never been deemed fit for appointment as a commissioner at the state level, House of Representatives , minister or even an ambassador since its creation.

Describing the council as one of the most strategically positioned LGAs with most politically conscious populations, the stakeholders said, “This imbalance not only contradicts the principles of equity and justice but also undermines the very foundation of representative democracy within our constituency.”

“Our schools and public infrastructure remain in deplorable condition, with little to no sustained intervention. Even our economic strengths—particularly agriculture and farm produce, which we continue to contribute significantly to the constituency and the state—are neglected, leaving our farmers to struggle without adequate support. As we have emphasized, this is not the failure of a single political party; rather, it reflects a systemic pattern that has persisted across different administrations, with the same script played by different actors,” they said.

The people, therefore demanded for a clear, transparent, and enforceable zoning framework that recognises Ife-North as a legitimate stakeholder and guarantees the rotation of key political offices within the Ife Federal Constituency.

“We request that all political parties—particularly the APC and the ACCORD Party—zone their 2027 House of Representatives tickets to competent and credible members from Ife-North.

We ask for a deliberate and enforceable commitment to equitable political inclusion of Ife-North in both elective and appointive positions within the Ife Federal Constituency and Osun State at large. We are prepared to mobilize and work with any political party willing to enter into a concrete agreement with us—specifically on the House of Representatives ticket and the appointment of a commissioner in the forthcoming governorship cycle,” they stated.

A member of the coalition, Taiwo Babalola, decried the level of development in the area compared to other cities in the Senatorial District.

“The current House of Representatives member and Senator have not been doing well for our local government in terms of youth empowerment and engagement compared to Ife Central, Ijesaland and Ilesa.

“We are not interested in collecting N10,000, N20,000. We are far from that. We have people who are graduates and are capable of giving appointments or job opportunities at the federal parastatals. When the election time comes, they will call us for support but when it comes to distribution of opportunities, they will go away and marginalise us,” Babalola stated.