Mr Dele Ogunbameru, the immediate past Chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State, has called on political leaders across the divide to support Okitipupa Local Government in producing Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu’s successor in 2024.
Ogunbameru in a statement on Monday in Akure, said this will ensure equity and fairness in the state’s political arrangement.
He noted that since 1999, the South Senatorial District only had the opportunity of producing the governor of state for one term under Dr Olusegun Agagu from Okitipupa local government.
Agagu, who was the state governor from 2003 to 2009, was removed by the Court of Appeal in Benin.
The Ondo South Senatorial district comprise of Okitipupa, Irele, Odigbo, Ilaje, Ese-Odo and Ileoluji-Okeigbo local governments.
Ogunbameru explained that the Central Senatorial district had produced governor for two terms of eight years under Gov. Olusegun Mimiko from Ondo West Local Government.
“Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu from Owo local government in the North Senatorial will complete two terms of eight years in office in February 2025, aside the four years(1999-2003) spent by Chief Adebayo Adefarati from Akunba Akoko in Akoko North-East local government also in the North Senatorial district,” he said.
While making case for Okitipupa local government area to produce Akeredolu’s successor, Ogunbameru pointed out that the voting strength of Ikales put Okitipupa ahead of other local government areas.
“In Ondo State, the governorship position has moved round the three senatorial districts but it has not favoured the South Senatorial district.
“It is, therefore, highly commendable that the people of Ondo State unanimously agreed to concede the next governorship position of the state to the South senatorial district which has six local governments with each featuring their sons and daughters for the exalted position.
“Now that the governorship position is returning to the South senatorial district in 2024 for political balance.
“It is politically expedient, and precedence demand that just like Owo and Ondo West Local Governments, Okitipupa Local Government should be allowed to complete it’s term since Agagu only spent one term as governor of the state.
“However, while these six Local governments and their aspirants have equal right to the Governorship position, the choice of where political parties choose their candidates from in these six local governments will be a major determinant of who wins at the end of the day,” he said.
Ogunbameru said that it would only be politically balanced, considering the voting strength of Okitipupa, to allow candidates from the local government to complete Agagu’s tenure just like Owo local government (Akeredolu) and Ondo West local government (Mimiko).
“It is on record that Okitipupa, the headquarters of the nine blocks of Ikale people, is known to have 30 wards, while Ilaje has 12 wards and Ese-Odo with 10 wards.
“Besides, the voting population of Ikales is not less than 272,175 compared to that of Ilaje and Ese-odo with 143,185 and 82,080 voting population, respectively,” he stated.
Ogunbameru added that Ilaje and Ese-Odo local governments had been adequately taking care of with statutory appointments in the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“It is on record and almost, if not impossible, for someone to be the Chairman of OSOPADEC and Commissioner in NDDC if the person is not from Ilaje or Ese-odo Local Governments.
“Besides, as at today, the current Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and the Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Abayomi Akinruntan, are from the same constituency in Ilaje Local Government,” he said. (NAN)
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