AN OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF ONDO; THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR AND OTHER CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS IN APC, ONDO STATE
Your Excellency,
We humbly write to register our protest and to openly inform your Excellency that the entire good people of Emure-Ile Kingdom through Elemure-In-Council have openly rejected the Vice-chairmanship Slot zoned to the ancient community.
This action was taken against the acceptance of the said position by the former Councilor of Uso/Emure-Ile Ward 11, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim who is one of the critical stakeholders in APC in Emure-Ile Axis as his action is regarded as personal interest that stands against the perennial agitation of the entire Emure-Ile people over the years.
This rejection is stepped out of the fact that Emure-Ile people have long been denied the chairmanship position in Owo LGA since 1976 when the state was created. The obvious marginalization of the entire Emure-Ile people to become the Chairman of Owo LGA over the years is, in fact ,very painful and heartbreaking apart from being undemocratic and unimaginable.
It’s therefore, for record purpose, very imperative to let you know Your Excellency the history of the chairmanship zoning in the LGA particularly in Owo Constituency II that comprises of Ijebu I Ward 4, Ijebu II Ward 5, Ipele Ward 7, Isaipen Ward 8, Iyere Ward 10 and Uso/Emure-Ile Ward 11.
The following distinguished leaders had occupied the coveted position in the constituency from Owo LG suburban communities in the recent years:
*IPELE*
1) Dr Adewumi Abitoye
2) Pharmacist Oyedele Lasekan
3) Hon. Oke Adedayo (Gere)
*IJEBU*
1) Hon. ( Prince) Tunji Ojomo ( 2014)
2) Alh. Kehinde Lawal Agilagila
*IYERE*
Hon. Tunde Owadimbola (2016)
USO
1) Hon. Adeola Fagbaibo (2008)
The only community in the constituency that has not taken a shot at this position is Emure-Ile. Again, the chance of this community was foiled in 2020 when Ch. Barr. Alaba Eniola Ajipe was denied of the same position. It’s suffice to say that Emure-Ile deserves the best especially when she has paid her dues.
Apart from the fact that Emure-Ile had positively contributed previously to the success of APC in Owo LGA and Ondo State, the results of the recently concluded governorship election in the state have conspicuously shown that Emure-Ile had contributed the highest votes as Uso/Emure-Ile came first in the poll in Owo LGA.
Uso/Emure-Ile registered 16, 791 votes . A total of 5022 votes were accredited out of which 4915 votes were cast. 4247 votes were cast out of the 31, 914 total votes scored in Owo LGA for APC. If Emure-Ile people had stood her ground for the APC since 2016 till date, then it’s very important to also remember the community in the ongoing Chairmanship Primary of the party.
Today the political balance sheet in Owo LGA is tilted towards Owo Constituency I. It’s pretty important to let you know Your Excellency that this critical situation should be addressed frontally by zoning the chairmanship position to Constituency II particularly Emure-Ile axis of Uso/Emure-Ile Ward 11. Today the political appointments in the two constituencies are as follows:
*Constituency I*
1. Deputy Governor (Igboroko II Ward 3)
2. Majority Leader , House of Assembly ( Igboroko II Ward 3
3. Chairman LGS ( Igboroko II Ward 3)
4. Commissioner 1, SUBEB ( Isuada/Ipenmen/Idasen/Obasooto Ward 9)
5. Education Secretary,Owo LGA (Igboroko II, Ward 3)
6. Owo LG Chairman ( Eyin-Ogbe Ward 1)
7. Senior Special Assistant to the Governor ( Eyin-Ogbe Ward 1)
8. State Commandant, Western Security Network ( Amotekun Corps ( Iloro Ward 6)
*Constituency II*
1.Federal Commissioner ( Ijebu I, Ward 4)
2.Commissioner for Finance ( Isaipen Ward 8)
3.House of Assembly Member, Owo Constituency II ( Ipele)
4.Special Adviser on Environment ( Iyere Ward 10)
5.Deputy Chief of Staff (Uso Axis)
( Uso/Emure Ward 11)
It’s important to emphasize that Isaipen and Ijebu are considered as integral parts of Owo municipal as they often enjoyed political patronage more than other communities in Owo Constituency II. From all indications, Emure-Ile has been marginalized for too long especially as regard the chairmanship position. This perennial inequality should be frontally and promptly addressed now as Emure-Ile remains the only community that has been shortchanged.
Your Excellency, it will be heartwarming if this injustice in the political balance sheet is resolved in favour of Emure-Ile to correct the marginalization of the past and to also reward the community for her remarkable scorecards in election results particularly the sterling performance of APC at the poll during the last governorship election.
We appeal to you Your Excellency to use your good office to respectfully and speedily attend to this urgent matter of community interest to avoid unnecessary crisis and tension now brewing in Emure-Ile Kingdom due to this unfortunate political miasma.
E-Signed
Elemure -In- Council
( For & On Behalf of Emure-Ile People)
