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Tag: Ikare-Akoko

  • Constitution review: Owo, Ose communities reject proposed Ose state capital in Ikare-Akoko

    Constitution review: Owo, Ose communities reject proposed Ose state capital in Ikare-Akoko

    Stakeholders from Owo and Ose communities in Ondo State have rejected the proposal to site the capital of the planned “Ose State” in Ikare-Akoko.

    Led by the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye, the stakeholders described the move as an affront to the historical significance of the two local government areas.

    In a communiqué issued after a weekend conference in Owo—attended by traditional rulers, elders, political leaders, clerics, youth groups, women leaders, civil society organisations, and technocrats—they insisted the capital should not be in Ikare-Akoko.

    They described the plan as “procedurally defective, morally indefensible, politically provocative, and economically untenable,” noting that the promoters, “largely from Akoko,” failed to consult Owo and Ose indigenes.

    The stakeholders recalled that Owo served as the administrative headquarters of the defunct Owo Division, which covered all of present-day Akoko and parts of Kogi State, arguing that Owo and Ose remain the true hub of governance and development in Ondo North.

    “Regardless of the suitability of Owo as the Capital of the proposed Ose state, reflection and deeper insight may suggest that Owo/ Ose LGAs fortune will be better served in present Ondo State,” it further read. 

    The stakeholders stressed that any future attempt to redraw the administrative map of the region – whether through state creation or boundary adjustment – must be based on inclusive consultations, constitutional procedures, empirical viability assessments, and equitable representation of all constituent stakeholders.

    They resolved that if a state is to be created within the Ondo North Senatorial District involving Owo and Ose territories, the only historically consistent, politically justifiable, and infrastructurally prepared location for the capital remains Owo. 

    However, they added that such a decision cannot be made unilaterally but should be reached through broad consultation within the Owo and Ose Federal Constituency.

    “That should a state be created within the Ondo North Senatorial District involving the present territories of Owo and Ose, the only historically consistent, politically justifiable, and infrastructurally equipped location for the capital remains Owo. But this too cannot be declared unilaterally, the eventual choice shall be based on consultation within Owo and Ose Federal Constituency,” the communique added. 

    Reaffirming their position, the stakeholders said the doors of the two communities remain open for principled negotiations with the Akokos—not for capitulation, but for a mutually beneficial accord in the greater interest of regional harmony and equitable development.

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    They unanimously resolved to take all necessary steps to address the procedural irregularities and substantive inequities in the proposed Ose State to safeguard their political integrity, territorial equity, and rightful aspirations.

    The stakeholders also agreed to establish a high-powered Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising eminent legal practitioners, seasoned media professionals, political strategists, revered traditional authorities, intellectuals, opinion leaders, and civil society leaders to implement the resolutions, guided by a dedicated think-tank.

    They, however, nominated Dr. Bode Olajumoke, former Senator from Ondo North in the National Assembly, to spearhead the effort to drive the Owo and Ose agenda regarding the contentious Ose State proposal.

    The Nation recalls that the House of Representatives passed for first reading a constitutional amendment bill seeking the creation of a new state to be known as Ose State.

    The bill, titled Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2025, is sponsored by Ifeoluwa Ehindero, who represents the Akoko North-EastNorth-West Federal Constituency.

    According to the proposal, the new Ose State would be carved out of the Ondo North Senatorial District, comprising 28 Local Government Areas, with Ikare-Akoko proposed as the state capital.

  • Notorious son kills mum, hangs self in Ondo

    There was double tragedy on Sunday in Oyinmo quarters, Ikare-Akoko, headquarters of Akoko Northeast when a 57-year old Mrs O.Ajimo simply called Mama Gbenga, based in Akure died in a scuffle with her notorious son, identified as Ayotunde Gbenga Opeyemi .

    Sources said late Ajimo; a mother of five had three children in Ikare- Akoko before she re-married in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

    Gbenga was one of these three children who killed their mother at Akure and escaped to  Ikare-Akoko where he stayed  with his grandmother at Oyinmo quarters.

    Read Also: Two cyclists crushed to death in Ondo

    It was learnt that when he suspected that efforts were on to arrest him and hand him over to the Police, he reportedly sneaked out to the kitchen and took his life by hanging in the night when everybody in the house had slept.

    Sources said it was a relation that came out around 3.00 am to ease herself that saw  Gbenga dangling.

    She was said to have raised an alarm that attracted large crowd.

    Police in Ikare-Akoko confirmed the report, adding that investigations had commenced on the matter.

     

  • Robbery: Banks shut down in Ondo Communities

    Following Monday bloody bank robbery in Ido-ani, Ose local government area of Ondo state which claimed seven lives, economic activities of the neighbouring Akoko area was on Tuesday grounded.

    All commercial banks in the four local governments especially Ikare-Akoko, the nerve centre,were shut down to customers.

    Many people who came for bank transactions waited endlessly before they returned home with regrets.

    A senior bank official who spoke in confidence recalled Monday’s attack in Idoani where many lives were lost and substantial amount of money carted away.

    Read Also: Ogun APC to banks: don’t approve Amosun’s loan requests

    He noted that security report had not been very favorable for operation of banks in the vicinity, stressing that they would not transact business unless adequate security was guaranteed.

    A customer who came from Akunu-Akoko, Micheal Bello and another one from Irun-Akoko, Mrs Ronke Ademulegun said they were not aware of the robbery at Idoani before coming to the banks, stressing that they would remain stranded in Ikare-Akoko, since they could not get the means of returning to their respective towns because of closure of banks.

    Efforts to speak with Ikare Akoko Police Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Razak Rauf on this development failed.

  • Rainstorm wreaks havoc in Ondo Community

    The almost one-hour downpour on Sunday evening accompanied by heavy rainstorm in Ugbe, Akoko Northeast has destroyed many houses and properties worth millions of Naira.

    Residents were counting their losses even though they had earlier been praying to God to send down the rain, as many deep wells had dried up.

    Valuables like vehicles, residential buildings and shops were affected.

    It was learnt that the personal car of the Area Commander for Ikare-Akoko, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Razak Rauf was one of those vehicles damaged.

    A roof of a building blown off by rainstorm reportedly landed on the vehicle and two others within the same compound.

    Read Also: Ondo govt. seals illegal hospital

    A resident of Ugbe Akoko, Chief Ladi Bello described the rainstorm as too destructive as it rendered many people homeless.

    Bello urged National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) and Ondo state government to provide relief materials for the victims.

    A victim, Mrs Funke Ajayi lamented that the roof of her shop was completely removed such that her items including rice and beans were drenched in water.

    The Chairman, Akoko Northeast local government, Rafiu Eniayewu sympathised with the victims, stressing that government and NEMA would access the losses for possible assistance.

    He urged residents to cultivate the habit of planting trees as wind breaker.

     

  • Bloody attack in Ondo over chieftaincy title

    There was massive destruction of property on Thursday evening by suspected hoodlums in Ikare-Akoko, headquarters of Akoko Northeast of Ondo state.

    The crisis was over the choice of Oniku of Iku quarters, in Ikare – Akoko.

    Already, the concerned family has cried out for rescue.

    In a petition sent to the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Undie Adie, the family demanded justice over alleged threat to their lives by the hoodlums said to have been sponsored by some prominent chiefs in the community.

    The Nation’ learnt that the development led to the destruction of properties and attack on residents of the community.

    The petition, which was signed by the family’s lawyer, Tolu Olowoyo, reads: “On Wednesday, February 27, the premises of our clients were invaded in a commando style by hoodlums fully armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.

    “They were attacked assaulted and sent out of their homes by the hoodlums.

    “They shot sporadically thereby throwing the whole community into disarray. A lot of people were injured; several others were tortured, while few residents were in confusion.”

    Read Also: Protest rocks Ondo INEC office over alleged rigging

    The embattled family alleged that a prominent chief in the community was behind the attack, stressing all efforts to ensure that the perpetrators of the crime were apprehended had failed.

    They urged the Police Commissioner to come to their aid, saying residents of the community were now living in fear.

    The perpetrators of this heinous act were said to have emerged from the residence of a prominent chief in the community (names withheld) and thereafter headed straight to the residence of our clients.

    “We urge the CP to urgently swing into action and bring those behind the bloody attack to book before they throw the whole community into commotion,” the family pleaded.

     

  • Akokoland…New, safe road to travel

    The story of Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State has been re-written.

    Its dreadful township road was notorious for resulting in deaths.

    Its Oke Alabojuto area had a dangerously steep hill. For vehicle owners plying the road, especially articulated vehicle drivers, ascending and descending the hill was trickish.

    However, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has found a way around the hills. Now, the woes are over.

    At the beginning of the project, very few believed the hill could ever be brought down and reduced to ground level to give way to a dual carriage way, the first in Akokoland.

    Today, the doubting Thomases have continued to throng the site of the once notorious hills.

    The paramount ruler of Ikare Akoko, Oba Akadiri Momoh, Olukare of Ikare-Akoko,  said he was elated at teh development.

    Oba Akadiri said: “I received the news with joy. Everybody in the town was very happy about the new development, because they knew the project was going to put a stop to the recurring needless accidents on the road.

    “The construction of the Oke Alabojuto road is a wonderful thing to happen to the people of Akokoland and Nigeria in general, because the road links Ondo State to other parts of the country.

    “We do appreciate the governor’s determination to permanently arrest our fears about this road. Our major concern, before the construction of the road by Akeredolu, was how to put a stop to the countless deaths on the road.

    “Most vehicles, especially trucks and other big lorries would lose control and crash while ascending or descending the road due to break failure or other mechanical faults. And these resorted to loss of lives and properties.”

    Also, the Olokeruwa of Okeruwa, Ikare-Akoko, Chief Dele Akerele, said casualties on the road reached a scary height when about five crashes, all resulting in fatalities, occurred within one week.

    He said: “The days of wailing and gnashing of teeth over auto crashes and deaths on Oke Alabojuto are finally over.

    “I feel very delighted that something good is coming to my town. Before the current state government started the constructing of this road, there had been series of fatal accidents. In fact, there was a week about five fatal accidents were recorded on this hilly portion of the road.

    “Our people are also delighted to see this road being constructed. It is a miracle, because it appeared that we have lost hope on the possibility of the community attracting the attention of the state government to put an end to the perpetual fear of losing lives to avoidable crashes on the road.”

    Chief Jacob  Maku thanked the government for the project.

    Maku said: “At a point, we even took steps to appease the gods to put an end to the recurring accidents on the road. We invited religious leaders like pastors and Imams to help intercede for us, but we thank God for the government of Akeredolu for sharing in our pains and for making ‘Oke Alabojuto’ to become ‘Isale Alabojuto.’

    “Everybody in the town has been praying for the success of Akeredolu’s administration. One thing we are asking God to do is to give our governor the power to complete the project.”

    Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the story for the people is the prompt payment of compensation to people whose houses were affected by the construction of the road.

    To many of the beneficiaries, the distribution of cheques by the government further rekindled their trust and love for Akeredolu.

    Apparently excited after receiving the cheque for the compensation for his building that gave way to the construction of the new road, Akeem Jimoh described Akeredolu as an exemplary leader.

    According to him, “Akeredolu is an example of a leader sent by God to rescue the people of Ikare-Akoko from recurring motor accidents.”

    Also, Omotola Johnson, 46, is particularly happy that compensations were paid to owners of buildings affected by the construction even before the completion of the project.

    His words:  “We are particularly happy that Akeredolu compensated us as earlier promised by him. I was among those who were presented with cheques as compensation for our properties demolished to give room for levelling the hilly Oke Alabojuto.”

    The feeling was the same for 35-year-old Rasheed Ramon, whose father’s house was affected by the demolition exercise.

    He said: “I thank God for giving us somebody like Akeredolu. I also thank the governor for fulfilling his promise to compensate people whose properties were demolished in the course of bringing the Oke Alabojuto down to give room for the construction of our road.”

  • My ordeals in Kidnappers’ den – Ondo ADC candidate

    A notable politician and Senatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress(ADC) in Ondo State, Jide Ipinsagba who recently regained his freedom with four others has narrated his ordeals in  gunmen’s captivity.

    He was abducted  alongside four other prominent politicians at Ago Ajayi forest along Owo-Oba Akoko-Ikare road.

    Ipinsagba was in the forest with the hoodlums at the notorious spot they called ‘Sambisa’ for four days.

    The politician recently defected from the  APC to the ADC  with others were coming from Ikare Akoko after a meeting.

    According to him, when they got to Ago-Ajayi area around 6.30 pm on that fateful day,10 gunmen came out of the forest,took their money,hand sets,wrist watches and other belongings after shooting sporadically .

    He said “We trekked for more than 25 kilometres in the forest.We slept on the rock in the night but as early as 4 30 am they usually woke us up to continue the journey.They fed us with gari and water from doubtful sources for four days in the wilderness.

    “When they saw a boot wore by Idowu, a Personal Assistant(PA) to Bisi Ogungbemi, the ADC  chairman who was also a victim, the kidnappers alleged that he was a Special Anti Robbery Squad(SARs) officer  which he denied, but they insisted.

    “They tied his hands and beat him to  coma on the basis that police are their enemies and target as many have been killed in the forest.They even boasted of more sophisticated weapons like AK riffles, pistols and daggers better than what police have.

    “The hoodlums told us that many victims who were not ready to cooperate on payment of ransom  had met their death in the forest,they even call on us to come and see human skeleton.

    Read Also: Abducted Ondo ADC candidate,Chairman,others freed

    “When ransom was to be handed to them, they guarded us while those bringing ransom were warned not to mess up otherwise they will kill all of us.After releasing us,those who brought ransom were left behind to allow them counted and cross checked the money.

    Ipinsagba said the leader of the group returned his phone,but kept his blackberry phone and golden wrist watch’.

    He said the leader of the kidnappers confirmed that eight of his boys were apprehended during Chief Olu Falae abduction at Ago Abo farm, who according to him  are now in prison,stressing that they were arrested through phone tracking.

    The victim urged police to use police helicopter to regularly  survey Ago Ajayi forest,saying  many groups are there doing nefarious activities.

    Besides,he called for  provision of  more ammunition,while military check points should be increased along Owo Ikare road.

  • Ondo Primaries: Protests persist in APC, PDP

    A factional group within the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Akoko Division and leaders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Odigbo/Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo federal constituency are aggrieved over the outcome of the primaries conducted by the two major parties.

    They alleged that the exercise was fraught with irregularities that called for outright cancellation, stressing that its members were schemed out of the affairs of the party in the state.

    At a rally in Ikare-Akoko led by one of the aspirants, Sunday Fagbemi,the group noted that only popular candidates could win elections in the area.

    It described the recent primary election in the state as an hoax, stressing that no election was done to warrant the emergence of any candidate.

    Also, the PDP leaders in Odigbo/Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo petitioned the National Chairman, Uche Secondus over the emergence of Tomi Akinfemiwa as its candidate.

    According to them,there was no election on October 3, to warrant the declaration of anybody as candidate.

    They said out of 21 wards under the federal constituency, Osogbo has 11 wards, Ologbo has four wards and Ile-Oluji with six wards.

    The aggrieved PDP members wondered how Ile-Oluji with six wards out of 21 purportedly conducted primary election that produced Akinfemiwa as winner without the involvement of other 15 wards.

    It noted that it would not be possible for two local government areas to produce both Senatorial and Representatives candidates from the same party, calling for outright cancellation of the purported primary.

    In the APC,the group loyal to the runner up in the 2016 APC governorship primary Olusegun Abraham lamented that its members were marginalised by the leadership of the ruling party in the state.

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    Fagbemi,who is an aspirant said ” no matter the victimisation, we will not compromise our stand in supporting Abraham because of his good plans for Akoko and the state as a whole.

    “Even outside government, he has been promoting education and welfare of people in several communities in Akoko Division especially Akoko Northeast.

    He said even though he was prevented from clinching the party’s ticket, Fagbemi said he would remain in the APC as its loyal supporter.

    APC’s spokesman, Alex kalejaye insisted that the primary held in the area was peaceful and devoid of irregularities.

    He said some faceless group within the party were out to destabilise it’s affairs ahead of 2019 for their selfish interests.

  • 15 die in Ondo road crash

    No fewer than 15 passengers travelling along Epinmi-Isua Akoko in Ondo state reportedly died Tuesday in a road accident.

    Sources said the victims were travelling in a bus when the vehicle had a head on collision with an unregistered Tokunbo vehicle.

    It was learnt that the vehicles consequently caught fire which nearly consumed all occupants of the bus.

    Read Also:We’ll open up Ondo with accessible roads, Infrastructure – Akeredolu

    An eye witness said the ‘Tokunbo’ vehicle which was driven by a military man was said to have overtaken a vehicle along the ever busy Epinmi-Isua-Abuja road.

    The Police Area Commander for Akoko, Razak Rauf who was on a routine trip to some divisions in the area confirmed the accident and attributed it to recklessness.

    A community leader and Chief Imam of Epinmi-Akoko,Alhaji Maliki Alimi lamented the incessant road carnage along the same route in recent time.

    It was learnt that men of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Ikare Akoko  unit immediately came for rescue operation.

    They reportedly evacuated the corpses to Ikare-Akoko Specialist hospital mortuary.

    It was also confirmed that the drivers of the two vehicles survived but sustained various degrees of injuries and now receiving treatment in the hospital.

  • Banks resumes in Akoko after robbery scare.

    Banking activities returned in Ikare -Akoko, Ondo State on Tuesday after rumours that robbers invaded the town on Monday which forced operators to hurriedly shut down.

    However, many banks did not open at the normal 8am, making many customers thought that they will not open for business transaction began after 10 00 am.

    Police in Ikare-Akoko assured people of their safety, urging them to continue with their normal business.

    The Area Commander for Akoko, Assistant Commisiner of Police(ACP) Abdurazak Abdulrauf said series of  meetings and consultations on security in banking sectors were going on.

    He urged the public particularly the hoteliers to always screen their lodgers.

    Abdulrauf commended the Police Community Relations Commitee(PCRC) in Akoko area for the robust cooperation between them and the police, adding that it is  the responsibility of all and sundry to get rid of criminals and make society free of crimes .

    The Area Commander hailed the Commissioner of Police(CP)in the state,Gbenga Adeyanju  for his prompt actions to security matter.