The Chairman of Ifo Local Government Area, Ogun State, Idris Olalekan Kusimo, has been criticised by netizens for his congratulatory message to a non-indigene for an outstanding performance in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) set by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

In his message on X, Kusimo celebrated Azoyenime Samuel Chukwuemeka of Isaac Newton School, saying his “dedication, brilliance, and hard work have brought pride to our council area.”

He said the lad’s remarkable achievement reflects his commitment to excellence and the unwavering support of his family and teachers.

While encouraging Chukwuemeka to excel further academically, the chairman expressed the belief that he will continue to “make us proud in all your future endeavours.”

The message from the chairman was not welcomed by many netizens, especially those who feel that the Yoruba political class prefer to pander to other ethnic groups to the detriment of their people.

An X user, @Akanbi_Semilore, said, “Every day we come up here, screaming on top of our voices about how you godforsaken political urchins are marginalising your people to advance other tribes in your region and state. Look at what many of you are doing to your people.”

The same sentiment was shared by @khalifaoyin, who said, “What exactly is wrong with the people who are getting into political offices across Yorùba land? What’s a local government chairman’s business with this? Is he an Ifo or Ogun State indigene? We’ll correct all nonsense.”

@jasperlingo007 urged the LG chairman to prioritise indigenes, saying, “Even in the US, Donald Trump is giving white South Africans easy refugee status but chasing away coloured. Teniteni, takisa n tatan. U better wake up. They still never support you over theirs.”

@dammalexx said, “The worst thing about them is that they are bloody ingrates, they don’t appreciate anything from Yoruba land, they’re not loyal, they call Yorubas, especially our women, all sorts of names on social media, etc, All these eyes services won’t take us anywhere.”

UTME forms for all regardless of ethnicity

In response to a netizen who wondered why Kusimo chose to celebrate Chukwuemeka while disregarding indigenes with high UTME scores, the chairman revealed that his administration even bought UTME forms for residents of his LGA, regardless of ethnicity.

“For context, Ifo Local Government purchased Jamb forms for hundreds of students who are residents, regardless of their ethnic affiliation or tribe. The onus is on us to appreciate the ones who have excelled,” he said.

The gesture of purchasing exam forms for non-indigenes was considered self-betrayal by the Think Yoruba First organisation, Ogun State chapter.

@TYFOgun wrote, “Dear chairman, you said ‘regardless of tribe’, but is Ifo no longer Yoruba land? Is it wrong to expect Yoruba leadership to prioritise Yoruba people first? In our own land, must we erase ourselves to prove fairness? That’s not equity. That’s self-betrayal.”

In response, Kusimo stated that he decided to please all ethnicities because “Ifo is highly heterogeneous.”

Not pleased by the chairman’s statement, @Akanbi_Semilore said, “They are taking over your ancestral land and poltical space, and you are saying Ifo is highly heterogeneous. You see how stupid many of you Yoruba political leaders are. Other tribes are protecting their people, but you are claiming liberal and Yorùba butt.”

@undiluted_ola said, “Focus on your people and leave toll alone. The resources of the LG are for the indigenous communities in the LG. Stop all this nonsense and use our resources to develop our people. If they want a scholarship, let them write a letter to Nigeria.”

The gesture by the chairman didn’t sit well with @nononsensezone, who showed that in Ebonyi, scholarships to the UK and other universities in Nigeria were only given to the state’s indigenes.

He also shared how a council chairman in Taraba State and another in Borno State bought exam forms for only indigenes, just as he wondered why Ifo chose inclusivity over indigene priorities.