- Governor’s wife’s spokesperson, Oluwatobilola Fademi, denies involvement, cites absence during decision.
- Fademi emphasizes Mrs. Akeredolu’s absence from country, refutes plan to impose non-indigene as chairperson
Residents of Odigbo community in Ondo have expressed their discontent over the purported imposition of Nwabara Eucharia, a politician of Igbo origin, as the interim head of the recently established Odigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu introduced 33 new LCDAs to complement the existing 18 local government areas in the state, and this decision was endorsed by the state House of Assembly last week.
During a protest on Sunday, members of the Odigbo community claimed that Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the governor’s wife, had recommended Ms. Nwamara for the role of LCDA caretaker chairperson.
Ms. Nwamara is currently serving as the councilor representing Ore Ward.
The displeased protesters, who gathered at the Orunja of Odigbo kingdom’s palace, Oba Rufus Adegboyega Akinrinmade, contended that it would be culturally inappropriate to appoint a non-native as the interim head of the LCDA.
The demonstrators vowed to oppose the appointment of Ms. Nwamara, asserting that it would be disrespectful for their monarch to take directives from a caretaker chairperson who lacks a connection to the community.
Addressing the protest on behalf of the demonstrators, community leader Femi Olafumiloye stated that the Odigbo natives were ready to decline the appointment of a “complete outsider” as the LCDA’s caretaker chairperson.
Mr. Olafunmiloye, who criticized the alleged involvement of the governor’s wife, deemed Ms. Nwamara’s appointment as unnecessary and warned that it could jeopardize the community’s harmony.
“How can we start an LCDA with a total stranger as the first caretaker chairperson? It is a passionate plea. She (the governor’s wife) can rescind this decision. We cannot take it. Let our people be the chairman. How can an Ibo woman communicate with us?” he queried.
Tunji Moyero, one of the youths in the community, said appointing Ms Nwamara, an Igbo woman, is nothing but an injustice to the people of Odigbo.
He said, “Our king cannot go to council to take orders from someone who is not from here. If we refuse to fight, our children will fight. Everybody must rise to this.
“We are begging the governor’s wife, and if there is any pronouncement to that regard, we have no other way. Our youths are prepared. We are fighting for what is legitimate,” he added.
Mayowa Akinfolarin, a former federal lawmaker and indigene of the community, asked Mrs Akeredolu to rescind her decision on the alleged plan.
Mr Akinfolarin, however, called for calm among the residents of the community, particularly the angry youths.
“And we appeal to Mrs Akeredolu that we love her and our neighbours. We are saying no to anything that will tamper with the peace of this locality,” he added,
Speaking to the assembled community members who were engaged in the protest, the traditional ruler appealed for calm and expressed his intention to find a peaceful resolution to the matter.
Furthermore, he assured that he would communicate with political leaders both within and outside the community in order to alleviate the concerns of the protesters.
Responding through a conversation, the senior special assistant on media to the governor’s wife, Oluwatobilola Fademi, refuted the involvement of the governor’s wife in the political aspects of the formation of the LCDA in Odigbo.
Ms. Fademi emphasized that Mrs. Akeredolu had not been present in the country and therefore could not have selected anyone to assume the role of caretaker chairperson for the newly established LCDA.
“I’m not aware of any plan to impose a non-indigene as the caretaker chairman of the new LCDA. Her excellency is not in Nigeria, and she could not have done that,” she said.
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