Rep escapes lynching as youths protest against siting of council headquarter

For Providence, the member representing Ifelodun, Biripe and Odo-Otin Federal Constituency of Osun State in the House of Representatives, Yinka Ajayi, narrowly escaped being lynched at the weekend by irate youths who allegedly planned to attack him at the palace of Olona of Ada.

The Guardian learnt yesterday that the youths were venting their anger against the federal lawmaker for his alleged role in the siting of Boripe North Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) headquarters in Iree as against Ada which was claimed to have been originally picked.

Ajayi, who hails from Ada, was at the monarch’s palace over the issue when he allegedly incurred the wrath of residents present at the parley who reportedly accused him of complacency.

The failure to keep to his promise of making Ada the council headquarters, it was further gathered, allegedly made the youths in the area restive, thus snowballing into the protest.

The lawmaker was, however, whisked away by the police when the crisis was about getting out of hand.

Meanwhile, the three communities of Aagba, Ada and Ororuwo have demanded reversal of the decision.

The communities communicated their stance in a petition to Governor Rauf Aregbesola duly signed by Alaagba of Aagba, Oba Rufus Olayinka Ogunwole, Olona of Ada, Oba Abimbola Abioye and regent of Ororuwo, High Chief James Dada.

They said the reversal was necessary because it was at variance with the content of the white paper released on the memorandum submitted by the three communities in 2012.

The letter explained that Iree was not part of the struggle for the creation of the new LCDA in the area, claiming that in the proposal the three communities presented before the Professor Mojeed Alabi committee, Ifesowapo Local Council Development Authority, with Modaa, Ada was proposed as its headquarters.

The letter read in part: “Creation of Boripe North Council Development Area and its headquarters at Modaa, Ada, was confirmed via the White Paper released on the exercise by your good government upon discreet and meritorious consideration of our
Memorandum.

“The White Paper in Second Schedule, specifically Column 4 stated Ada; Aagba, Iree and Ororuwo communities with their villages as the newly created Boripe North LCDA and Modaa, Ada, as the headquarters.

“We have no objection to the addition of Iree as one of the owners of Boripe North LCDA, though without reference to us, but we totally oppose, object and reject making Iree our headquarters.

“We therefore, implore your Excellency to quickly and urgently set all machinery in motion to reverse this political insult and daylight robbery to prevent us from taking our destiny into our hands,” the petitioners stated.

It would be recalled that the state government recently created 31 LCDAs in addition to the existing 30 local councils.