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Tag: marginalisation

  • Self-inflicted marginalisation

    Self-inflicted marginalisation

    By Nnaji Jekwu Onovo

    The most abused word in the political lexicon of Nigeria is “MARGINALISATION”; as even people who wittingly alienate their constituencies from federal projects, turn around to shout “marginalization”. The major culprits are states governed by opposition political parties whose stock in trade is sabotaging of federal programs and projects meant for their states. The state administrations under the control of opposition political parties are unsettled by the presence of federal projects in their states, and therefore work to thwart and derail the programs and projects. They view the federal projects as ploy by the Federal administration to coax the citizens of their states; and feel better off denying the state its share of federal programs and projects. A classic example is playing out in Enugu State. 

    The two highest ranking political leaders in Enugu State are both indigenes of Nkanu land, Chief Uche Nnaji (Honourable Minister of Innovation Science and Technology) and Peter Mbah (Executive Governor of Enugu State). The governor’s programs and projects are specifically for Enugu State; while the Minister’s programs and projects covers the entire country including Enugu State. In that vein, the Honourable Minister have attracted and still attracts Federal projects to his home state. Some of the Federal projects are domiciled in Nkanu land. However, some misguided and myopic indigenes of Nkanu land including the chairmen of Nkanu East and Nkanu West LGAs are attacking the Minister and sabotaging the Federal projects, claiming the Federal projects are ploys to grab lands in Nkanu — kobo wise, Naira foolish! It is disheartening that elected local government chairmen who should be excited with the attraction of the federal project into Nkanu land, are working against the project and, therefore against the yearnings of Nkanu people for job creation and economic growth. This is self-inflicted marginalization.

    The conception of the basis of Nigerian nation-state and of its democratic system, codified in the Constitution, is strengthened by the provision of the Land Use Act, entrenched by section 315 of the Constitution, which vests the ownership of all land in the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the people of Nigeria, as a whole, and not in any ethnic, or, religious community. It allows every Nigerian citizen, who collectively shares in the ownership of all land in Nigeria with all other Nigerian citizens, to individually acquire rights of occupancy in any part of the country, irrespective of any ethnic, regional, or, religious, origins and affinities. Is anything wrong with Federal Government acquiring land for projects and infrastructural development at Enugu State?

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    The Honourable Minister of Innovation Science and Technology signed MoU with Foreign Investors for the establishment of Bio-mass Methanol plant, Natural Gas based Methanol plant, and Cassava based Ethanol plant; and received the Presidential approval for the projects. All the projects will be run as BDO model of Public Private Partnership (PPP). The Natural Gas Methanol plant will be located at Imo State, the Bio-mass Methanol plant at Enugu State and the cassava-based Ethanol plant will be at Ekiti State according to the Presidential approval. The Minister sites the Bio-mass Methanol in the agrarian community of Nkanu land, for ease of sourcing the feedstock. However, the project unsettled the spirited defenders of the state government, who forced works to be stopped at the project site. The unfortunate thing is that Enugu State is part of the South-East geo-political zone which has been screaming “MARGINALISATION”, lamenting the dearth of federal projects in the zone. Is this not the case of somebody alienating oneself from a system but accuses the establishment of ostracizing him/her? What is wrong with the black man? Are we black within and without?

    The phrase of “we are marginalised” began creeping in after the annulment of the June 12,1993 election, won by MKO Abiola, a Yoruba man. But no sooner than President Obasanjo, another Yoruba man taken the mantle of leadership did the remaining two major ethnic groups (Hausa-Fulani and the Igbo) began to shout “blue murder” at perceived marginalisation of their ethnic group in the share of the national cake. Later, the Niger Delta rebels took to militancy and armed struggle to protest their own. Here we are, sabotaging federal projects meant for Igbo land! Are we naught?

    In the Nigerian national polity, governors are the chief executives of their state and the chief security and law officer. The extent that each governor succeeds in performing his role depends on the quality of programs articulated, the dedicated professional team available to the governor beyond the existing bureaucracy, and the integrity and drive behind the total leadership. A governor’s actions must be anchored on the delivery of good governance, and must be built on the rule of law.

    There is a certain amount of arrogance in governance that makes a political office holder feel larger than life, even when the power he has is transient. Power and wealth can bring out the best in an individual, but they can also bring out the worst. An ordinary person becomes a local government chairman and all of a sudden, he is translated from a demeanour of accessible humility to royal seclusion that changes him so much that his friends and colleagues become “former”. He has moved up in the world and can no longer be seen with a certain group of people. His “level” has changed! Why would His majesty, a local government Chairman, speak with “ordinary” people? In Nigeria, local government chairmen live in a world of their own, completely detached from reality. Most of them have full retinues of bodyguards and are driven around in convoys of bullet-proofed SUVs, with police orderlies to open and close doors for them. So, the chairmen of Nkanu East and Nkanu West LGAs are being true to form.

    It is instructive to state that the local government areas were created to generate development at the grassroots levels. We are quick to notice awful decisions by the federal government, but in reality, our state and local governments are actually worse.

    Maybe we should fix Nigeria from the bottom up. We can all start from our local governments. If you ask me, this is the easiest of ways to fix Nigeria. If each local government can start by being self-sustaining, then we will begin to get somewhere. If local governments can start working together to get results, then we might just be on the way to fixing our country.  

  • Southeast  commission will end Ndigbo marginalisation, says Ubah

    Southeast  commission will end Ndigbo marginalisation, says Ubah

    A member of the National Assembly, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, has welcomed the passage of a bill seeking the establishment of   Southeast Development Commission.

    Ubah, who represents  Anambra South in the Senate, said yesterday that the commission would, when operational, end the marginalisation of the Southeast and some of its challenges. 

    He added in a statement made available to reporters by his media office, that the Bola Tinubu administration was committed to fair representation of the six geo-political blocks in the country in the scheme of things.

    Ubah said that as Senator, he would work in tandem with his colleagues to ensure that every aspect of the bill was implemented when signed into law.

    The lawmaker recalled his contributions to the passage of the bill and commended all National Assembly members for their roles.

    His statement reads: “In  further appreciation  of  the Senate on behalf of the Southeast Senators and honourable members, I highlighted the importance of the South East Development Commission Bill in addressing the developmental challenges faced by the Southeast region of Nigeria

    “I also emphasised the need for targeted interventions to promote economic growth, infrastructure development, and social welfare in the region.

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    “I reiterated that it would not only put the perceived marginalisation of the Southeast to an end but would also, when signed into law, enable the Southeast zone to benefit directly from Federal Government’s intervention programmes which are already being enjoyed by other zones like the Southsouth and Northeast through the Niger Delta Development Commission and Northeast Development Commission respectively.

     “The present Federal Government is committed to the development of various regions of the country and I am confident that the Senate would prioritise the implementation of the bill when signed into law and would also ensure that the commission is effectively established and empowered to fulfil its mandate.”

  • APC faults Fayose’s claim on alleged marginalisation of Ekiti

    APC faults Fayose’s claim on alleged marginalisation of Ekiti

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has challenged Governor Ayo Fayose’s claim that the state is not gaining anything from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

    It said instances of the Federal Government’s assistance abound that should have lifted Ekiti people from their present sorry state if the governor had applied various financial aids by the Federal Government honestly.

    Fayose had said in his last media chat, Meet Your Governor, on state radio and television that the Federal Government has not rendered any assistance to Ekiti State.

    He also said that he had not borrowed any money since his assumption of office in 2014, maintaining that all the state’s debts were incurred by the administration of his predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

    He also said the loans taken by the last administration would be fully repaid in 2036.

    But reacting in a statement on Thursday by the Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party berated the governor for always lying to the public to deny various aides he had received from the Federal Government to settle workers’ salaries and projects implementation.

    Listing various instances of assistance the governor had enjoyed from the Federal Government, Olatunbosun explained:

    “Besides regular payment of statutory monthly allocations, including the August allocation that Fayose himself put at N2.3b, the governor borrowed N10b from the Federal Government for projects and took another N2b from the Central Bank for small-scale business but diverted the money as no small-scale entrepreneur received kobo.

    “He took two tranches of bailout of about N20b, N14b in Budget Support Facility and the last Paris Club N4.7b refund largely for salary payment but diverted all to the flyover and new market projects awarded to his friends’ companies in which he allegedly has interest.

    “Fayose who said that the state has not benefitted anything from the Federal Government is in charge of the Federal Government’s N-Power project, school feeding programme and cash transfer programme in which beneficiaries take N5,000 and he has used his position as governor to ensure that it is only his supporters that have benefitted from some
    of these schemes.

    “The Federal Government has also commenced Federal Housing Project around Agric Olope area of Ado-Ekiti while the Federal Secretariat construction has started in the state capital even while his needless but most costly flyover in Nigeria in Ado-Ekiti is a Federal road on which he will be reimbursed by the Federal Government.

    “The question is, where is Fayose getting loans for these projects if it is true that the Federal Government is not patronising the state in spite of Fayose’s refusal to attend National Economic Council meetings where his colleagues in other states table their problems for the assistance of the Federal Government that he prefers to abuse through paid adverts in the newspapers?”

    Olatunbosun accused the governor of sabotaging the state’s interest in his needless fight against the President, explaining that while other governors were keying into the Federal Government’s development projects, Fayose preferred to launch attacks against the President.

    He added: “While Lagos, Jigawa, Kano, Benue, Osun, Ondo and Kebbi, among others, were keying into the agricultural scheme of the Federal Government in rice production and were showing the blue prints for the scheme, Fayose had nothing to show to the point that his Commissioner of Agriculture was asked to present the state’s agricultural agenda but the poor man was askance, as he was not able to say anything because Fayose has no plan for agriculture.

    “Again, recently, when other governors were being asked to show interest in mining prospecting licences, Fayose was at the time busy in the media talking about the non-existent 11 pictures of President Buhari on life-support machines while other governors were signing up for their states, including Governor Rotimi Akeredolu who was sworn in just a few months before the time.”

  • Delta youth body alleges marginalisation of lsoko nation

    The umbrella body of lsoko youth groups, Isoko National Youth Assembly, at the weekend, lamented ‘’the gross marginalisation’’ of the Isoko nation by successive governments and multi-national companies.

    Speaking at a news conference in Aradhe, Isoko North Local Government Area, its national president, Comrade Ovie Omuakpo, said Isoko nation was backward in all spheres of life.

    He said: “The Federal Government should open talks with Isoko elders and youth leaders, with a view to enrolling into the Amnesty programme, and discard the notion that communities can only benefit only when they take to violent or strong agitation.

    “As a youth group, we embarked on massive campaigns to discourage our youth from violence as a means for development.

    ‘’We also condemned the poor maintenance of oil facilities owned by Nigeria Petroleum Development Company that led to spillage at Ogini flow station recently.

    “We give NPDC the next few weeks to clean up the oil spillage in Ogini flow station or be ready to face the wrath of the Isoko nation as they may have no other option than to shut down its operations on Isoko land.

    “OML 30 ,which covers 1,095 Sqkm and 11 oil fields with Isoko communities making up 60 per cent, is of concern to Isoko nation, and we were shocked that the Community Development Board (CDB), constituted by Heritage Energy, the operator, was lopsided and does not reflect the true position of equities of the resources being contributed to the setup as no one from the Isoko extraction is at the managerial cadre.”

  • Group decries marginalisation

    A group, Isokan Mainland has urged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rescue Mainland Local Government Area from dictatorship.

    The group’s leader, Mr. Wale Olugbodi said democratic principles had been jettisoned for the rule of one man, adding that some politicians were compromising the collective will of the people.

    He explained that the same set of politicians of Kwara origin had held public office in the past 20 years, noting that others who aspired to serve had been blocked by those he allegedly called Kwara Cabals.

    He said: “We want a total change of government in Mainland council. We are fed up of the same set of people who have been ruling us since 1999 without any positive impact.

    “These Kwara cabals are the ones sponsoring hood-lums, sycophants and miscreants to foment trouble during elections. The even supply them with weapons with which to wreak havoc in order to discourage genuine people who have ambition to serve.

    The group appealed to Senator Oluremi Tinubu to caution the cabals, stressing that they were in the habit of dropping her name to hijack legitimate mandate.

    “We want to crave our dear mother, Senator Oluremi Tinubu to caution these elements from using her name to hijack positions in Lagos Mainland. Though the APC said it has not announced the names of its candidates, some people have been claiming they had been chosen by the party for this month’s council election

  • Ajimobi: marginalisation of Oke-Ogun ‘ll end

    Ajimobi: marginalisation of Oke-Ogun ‘ll end

    The Oke-Ogun zone of Oyo State has started putting its act together, ahead of the 2019 governoship election.

    The zone has 10 out of the 33 local government areas of the state. Oke-Ogun is a bloc of homogenous agrarian communities scattered across several kilometres of land.

    It has been receiving special attention  since the inception of the administration of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and later, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Oke-Ogun has not produced a governor since the creation of the old Oyo State in 1976. The late Cicero of Esa-Oke, Chief Bola Ige, was the first civilian governor of  Oyo State. He won the election to become governor in 1979.

    He was succeeded by an Ibadan man, the erudite scholar and mathematician, Dr Omololu Olunloyo in 1983. After nine years of military interregnum, another Ibadan man, the late Kolapo Isola, became  governor in 1992.

    At the return of democracy in 1999, Alhaji Lam Adesina, an Ibadan man, was elected governor. He was succeeded by another indigene of Ibadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, in 2003.

    But, in 2007, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, who hails from Ogbomoso, was elected as the governor. He was succeeded by, another indigene of Ibadan, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, in 2011.

    Throughout the period, Oke-Ogun indigenes, under various pressure groups, called for political balancing. They criticised the system as marginalizing them for creating no opportunity for any indigene of the area to emerge as governor. The topmost position they have been getting is that of the Deputy Governor. For instance, Chief Hameed Gbadamosi was Chief Kolapo Isola’s deputy, while Chief Iyiola Oladokun was elected deputy governor during the tenure of Adesina. Both are from Oke-Ogun.

    The current deputy governor  Moses Adeyemo, is also from Oke-Ogun and in his second term in office.

    Among the governors,  Ajimobi showed much interest in the zone. In his first term in office, he appointed same aides who hail from the area. For the first time, Oyo State government dualised a major road in the zone Iseyin township Road.

    Ajimobi’s also established a School of Nursing in Kisi and upgraded the Saki campus of Ibadan Polytechnic, named Oke-Ogun Polytechnic. His administration also established high courts in Kisi and Iseyin, in addition to the only one in Saki. Besides, he established three zonal headquarters of the joint security outfit, the Operation Burst, in the area.

    The zone voted  for Ajimobi in the last year general election. The governor only lost to Chief Alao-Akala in Orelope Local Government.

    The attention given to the zone by the Ajimobi administration seemed to have assuaged their feeling of marginalisation.

    Since assuming office for the second time, the governor has launched two major initiatives to transform the economy of the zone.

    First, the government launched its farming project tagged: Agric-Oyo, and later made a concrete promise to establish an international aso ofi market to promote the traditional fabric, which is a major product in Iseyin, a popular town in the zone. It has also approved the dualization of Saki township Road.

    While Agric-Oyo opens up land for mechanized farmers in a bid to diversify the economy, empower locals and generate ?revenue for the state. This is in addition to the emergence of the  Minister of Communication, Mr.  Adebayo Shittu as the representative of the state in the Federal Executive Council. Shittu hails from Saki.

    All these seem to be weakening the marginalization in the area.

    At a town hall meeting last week, Ajimobi solicited their support of the zone for Agric-Oyo and the education reform, which will see each public secondary school have a Management Board.

    The governor said Agric-Oyo was aimed at Job creation, poverty alleviation and food security through massive engagement of the human and material resources of the state through agricultural value chain.

    Held at Harmony Gardens, Gedu Estate, Ibadan Road, Saki, the governor explained that the purpose of the visit was to thank the people of Oke-Ogun for their support, to discuss development of the state, to highlight government activities, to find joint solutions to critical issues, obtain feedback from all stakeholders and to bequeath a lasting legacy to the younger generation.

    He stressed that the target of the state was to harness its agriculture potential with the ultimate ambition of becoming the food basket of the Southwest.

    With an expanse of land spanning 28,454 square kilometre, the governor said  the state had the largest arable land in the southern part of the country and human resources, which gave it comparative advantage over many other states.

    Ajimobi called for attitudinal change among the people, advising that citizens must work hard to survive, instead of relying on prayers to meet their needs.

    His words: “Now that oil, which is the major source of economy of Nigeria, has crashed, the government and our people should put to maximum use the available land mass, physical infrastructure and clean environment to invite investors for the economic growth of the country.

    “Nigeria is now at crossroads, because even our strategic reserve is nothing to write home about. Oil is our largest source of income in Nigeria but it has crashed due to oil glut in the international market. We are very lucky in Oyo State. Out of our 33 local governments, 28 are agrarian. So, what Lagos State has in water, Oyo State has in land. We need to harness these through the agriculture value chain to revive our economy.”

  • Yorubas have learnt useful lessons on marginalisation, says Fasehun

    Yorubas have learnt useful lessons on marginalisation, says Fasehun

    Founder and President of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr Federick Fasehun, said yesterday that the Yoruba has learnt its lessons on marginalisation of descendants of Oduduwa in Federal Government’s key positions, despite the support of the Southwest for the administration.
    He said the recession is surmountable in spite of the present challenges, and hoped that Nigeria would not fall into depression.
    Fasehun spoke in an interview in Lagos when the OPC honoured some Nigerians. According to him, the Yorubas will not be like the “mad dog” that barks all the time, but will take calculated steps to make its position known on the state of affairs of Nigeria.
    Fasehun said the Yorubas are keenly looking forward to the next election, adding that ”The Yoruba have learnt a big lesson for what happened in the last administration, as well as the current government. We have assisted other ethnic groups to get to power and that struggle has not been appreciated.
    “But, we have recorded it. But, as a decent race, we will not be like the ‘mad dog’ that barks all the time. We do not have to criticise the government all the time.Yorubas have taken everything in their stride from the people doing the damage to us.
    “We will learn how to react and we look forward to the next general elections,” he said.
    Fasehun adde that the OPC decided to honour some Nigerians, who are not Yoruba, as evidence that the group is interested in defending the rights of all.

  • Yorubas have learnt useful lessons on marginalisation, says Fasehun

    Yorubas have learnt useful lessons on marginalisation, says Fasehun

    Founder  and President of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr Federick Fasehun, said yesterday that the Yoruba has learnt its lessons on marginalisation  of descendants of Oduduwa in Federal Government’s  key positions, despite the support of the Southwest for the administration.

    He said the recession is surmountable in spite of the present challenges, and hoped that Nigeria would not fall into depression.

    Fasehun spoke in an interview in Lagos when the OPC honoured some Nigerians. According to him, the Yorubas will not be like the “mad dog” that barks all the time, but will take calculated steps to make its position known on the state of affairs of Nigeria.

    Fasehun said the Yorubas are keenly looking forward to the next election, adding that ”The Yoruba have learnt a big lesson for what happened in the last administration, as well as the current government. We have assisted other ethnic groups to get to power and that struggle has not been appreciated.

    “But, we have recorded it. But, as a decent race, we will not be like the ‘mad dog’ that barks all the time. We do not have to criticise the government all the time.Yorubas have taken everything in their stride from the people doing the damage to us.

    “We will learn how to react and we look forward to the next general elections,” he said.

    Fasehun adde that the OPC decided to honour some Nigerians, who are not Yoruba, as evidence that the group is interested in defending the rights of all.

  • Marginalisation: Presidency compiling list of appointments

    Marginalisation: Presidency compiling list of appointments

    •’Allocation to states may rise to N700b next month’

    The Presidency has compiled a list of appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari to determine marginalisation of any section of the country,  Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu, has said.

      He told The Nation in Ibadan that this was aimed at investigating claims by some Nigerians that people from the South were marginalised in Buhari’s choice of appointments.

    Ojudu, who noted that the allegation was taken seriously by the Presidency, said the compilation showed that no section of the country was marginalised in the appointments by Buhari.

    According to him, some northerners heading federal agencies were chosen by merit.

    He said the President stuck to the principle of merit to promote patriotism and excellence.

    This, he said, should not be taken as an act of marginalisation because Buhari was determined to return the country to the path of meritocracy.

    He said: “Sometimes, we allow the opposition to provide us our narratives. In the last few weeks, what we have done in the Presidency is to compile a data of appointments for MDAs.

    ‘’What has been shown so far is that what people are saying around is not the truth. That is not to say that people are not deserving of whatever they can get, anybody from any part of the country deserves what they clamour for. But I want to say that claims of marginalisation is a wrong narrative about this government. They are trying to destroy the country.

    On why Nigerians still cry for dividends of the Buhari administration, Ojudu urged Nigerians to pay attention to several achievements, particularly in fighting corruption.

    He said blocking leakages, fighting corruption and standing for integrity led to the surge in government revenue, which made states alone to share N500 billion this month, describing the allocation as the highest in three years.

    He hinted that the surge would continue because the government was working to see it rise to about N700 billion next month.

    Ojudu insisted that the opposition politicians, who brought the country down on its knees are the ones telling various narratives; casting the government as unperforming.

    He said $15 billion was voted to fight insurgency under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which was shared among individuals. By drawing them to refund what they took, Ojudu said they resorted to narratives; casting aspersions on the Buhari administration.

    His words: “Aside working to ensure that the country develop agriculture, support job creation for youths and support the poor with huge funds so they can rise above acute poverty, the President has also chosen to fight corruption that has brought the country down. That is also fighting back in a way…”

     

  • ‘Marginalisation of Akure Division should stop’

    ‘Marginalisation of Akure Division should stop’

    The Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo, in this interview LEKE AKEREDOLU, explains why he discontinued the agitation for power shift to Akure Division. He also speaks about the marginalisation of the traditional institution by the government.

    What are you doing to  ensure that the traditional institution is relevant to government in your kingdom?

    I started the move long ago, even before the Ooni of Ife.  But, because I am a low cadre person, you don’t hear about it. I have been going round Akure Division, visiting all the Obas in my division so that we can come together and have a formidable voice in this oncoming regime. The way traditional rulers are being treated in the country is as a result of our constitution. There are no substantial provisions for us in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Supposing I want to travel out of Akure, I must inform the chairman of my local government. The chairman must give me permission, which is not supposed to be. We are proposing that, in pursuit of any amendment to the constitution, all the traditional rulers should take a common position.

    You have been agitating that the next governor of the state must be an Akure indigene.  But, it seems you have changed your position…

    Yes. I said this in all my interviews, I was agitating for Akure Division for governor, but when I realised that governor Mimiko, who is not even from Akure performed wonders, I changed my mind that anybody can be governor, provided he continues with the works of this present regime. Anybody from any part of the state can succeed Mimiko as long as there is continuity of the caring. Now, because of his efforts, the way he transformed Akure, I now realise that anybody that will keep on with the work of the present regime could be governor, and that is Akure indigene inclusive. We have our sons and daughters too who could be governors and follow the footsteps of the incumbent governor.

    Are you withdrawing your support for the old Akure Division to produce the next governor?

    No, when I considered the fact that the present governor is not from Akure, if we put another non-indigene there, he might as well do good. what I am looking forward to is somebody that will continue with his programmes and not derail his programmes. So, that is why I say if he is not even from Akure, but anybody that will continue with his programmes and transform Akure better than the present regime. But, I still prefer to see that an Akure son or daughter is the next governor.

    Akure is the state capital. do you feel the people are still being marginalised?

    So, all we should have now is the state capital? Everybody enjoys the state capital; all over the state, they all come here to enjoy all the amenities. If you go to Ijapo, Alagbaka: they are non-indigenes. What I am saying is, if Akure becomes the next governor, there will be some kind of impacts within the communities and the division at large. Even, for us to be the next governor will be a pride that Akure Division is elected as a governor. We have been neglected for too long in the state. Idanre, Ifedore, Akure North are not the capital. They are parts of Akure Division. but, the state capital belongs to everybody. it belongs to the state at large. Nevertheless, if we have our man there, we will feel the impact. He will bring some pride and more development to the state.

    What does your people lack, apart from having their indigene as the next governor?

    What about the traditional rulers being upgraded? Since the state was created in 1976, we had four first class Obas: two from this division, one from Ondo Division and one from Owo Division. But now, we still have two first class obas in Akure Division, whereas if you go to Akoko Division, they have about 10 first classs Obas; and in the Ondo South, they have about 13 first class Obas. All these things bring development. If they want to distribute wealth to traditional rulers, 10 will go to Akoko, 13 will go to the south, but only two will come here. We have always had two since 1976 while the north and the south that had one each then have had tremendous increase. This is what I am saying; it is because we never had a governor. When the late Governor Adebayo Adefarati was there, he promoted all the traditional rulers; Governor Agagu was there, he promoted all his traditional rulers. This is part of development.

    What efforts are you making to ensure promotion for the monarchs in the division?

    We have been going around, holding meetings so that the next governor will listen to our yearning. It is when we have one voice that we can achieve this. Whether Akure man or Akoko man or whosoever becomes governor, we will go to him, tell him our problems and if we have a one voice, it will add value to us. Even if the governor is from Akure, we are still going to ask him not do otherwise. The traditional rulers have been lacking and they have to be upgraded.

    What steps have you taken to ensure that an Akure man becomes the next governor?

    For the Akure man to be the next governor is good, but like I told you, it is not a do or die affairs. I have already shelved the idea because when I compare Mimiko with others in other states, Mimiko has been helping us. like I said, it is just for the pride because it looks like we are being cheated. Whatever belongs to you whether it is one naira, if is not given to you, you will fight for it. But, despite the fact that one naira would not do you anything, but for you to be seen to be carried along, you have to agitate. I know if the next governor should continue on the programmes of the present regime, everybody will enjoy. But, it should be our pride if an Akure man becomes the next governor.