HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST OLUSEGUN ADU-PETERS URGES DELINEATION OF ULE-UJI/OGO WARD OUT OF OKE-IRUN AKOKO
Human rights activists, unionist and community leader from Irun-Akoko in Akoko Northwest local government area of Ondo State, Barrister Olusegun Adu-Peters has called for the delineation of Ule-Uji/Ogo ward out of Oke-Irun Akoko.
Adu-Peters stated that the creation of the ward would enhance grassroot participation in politics through voting.
In a statement personally signed by him and made available to newsmen in Akure, the human rights activist emphasized that the approval would eliminate poor access to polling units as well as overcrowding as a challenge and barrier to voters participation.
In his words, “we are earnestly appealing to the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) in exercise of its statutory powers and in all fours with Section 40 sub 1 & 2 of the Electoral Act 2022, delineate Ule-Uji and Ogo into ward in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State and provide adequate number of polling units.”
“Irun Akoko from ages has two political wards delineated for political participation from the grassroot in order to ease good governance.”
“The present political wards carved out by the Electoral Commission in Irun are Oke – Irun/ Surulere ward 7 and Odo – Irun/ Oyinmo ward 8.”
“These wards have been functioning for more than forty years as the population has grown geometrically overtime due to inter-marital affairs and influx of people across the country who came for farming and other businesses to eke out a living and improve on their lifestyle.”
“Imoleji is one of the major Streets in Irun because she is topographically and geographically blessed by God in terms of settlement. Thus, Imoleji has two- thirds of landmass and the camp in Oke Irun spanning from the Inter-State boundary from Imesi, Egbe and Isinbode in Ekiti State.”
“Among notable and pronounced camps and huts that are extensions of Imoleji are Igbo-Uji, Ojeka, Okutupu, Ose, Oyimo, Aba-Petesi just to mention but a few.”
“The inhabitants in these settlements in thousands are mostly farmers and agricultural business men religiously and traditionally pay royalty to Eli of Imoleji who is the traditional head of the street as recognition of his entitlement whereas the Onirun of Irun is the tradional head of Irun kingdom.”
“In the same vein, Ogo Street is next to Imoleji. The traditional Head of Ogo Street is Ologo and just like Imoleji Ogo has camps inhabited majorly by farmers.”
“Some of these camps are Onitogin, Eluju-Agbon, Ugbegede, just to mention but a few. The farmers in these areas pay royalty to Ologo in recognition of traditional Street headship.”
“Ogo and Imoleji co-habit together peacefully and share the same similarities from ages. The common traits shared by both Streets made the people in and around the community tag them as siamese twins.”
“In these areas, due to nonchallant attitude of Ondo State Government in terms of political, economic and social development, Ekiti State is using political machinery to capture and take over some of the apportioned Ondo State land [Imoleji/Irun] in the adjourning Imesi, Egbe, Isinbode Ekiti boundary for political interest and advantage.”
“The current narrative of Oke-Oro is a clear indication that Ule Uji/Ogo ward from Oke-Irun cannot be said to be out of place by the Electoral Commission because the present situation to us is nothing but “Deus ex machina”, Adu-Peters added.
