***Only persons in community seeking LCDA creation has locus to express opinion – Legal Expert
There was a wild drama today at the public hearing for LCDA creation when persons identified as aides of the Deji of Akure instigated a handful of street urchins to disrupt the well-organized and peaceful public hearing conducted by the Ondo State House of Assembly.
Two individuals identified as Michael Adeyeye, chief press secretary to the Deji of Akure and Taiwo Fagite, the Sele of Akure, a palace chief to the Deji, created a rowdy scene urging thugs to prevent the Iralepo of Isinkan from presenting a memorandum on behalf of communities across Isinkan land.
Our reporter confirmed that the process was orderly and peaceful as other traditional rulers made their presentations even where their opinions defer until it was the turn of Akure south local government. This prompted scores of youths from communities in Isinkan to rise in defense of the traditional ruler.
It took the intervention of the Speaker and security personnel at the event to restore normalcy after about twenty minutes. The Speaker insisted that the royal father must have his say on behalf of his community.
Addressing the gathering thereafter, the Iralepo, Oba Oluwagbemiga Ojo Olofin-Adimula thanked the state governor for the creation of LCDA across the state and in his domain.
“We the people of Isinkan land and the communities, villages and farm settlements across Isinkan land are immensely grateful to the government of Ondo State under the able leadership of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN and Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa as well as members of the Ondo State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji and the Deputy Speaker Prince Abayomi Akinruntan for their wisdom in rectifying an agelong suppression through the making of Isinkan town the Headquarters of the proposed Akure West LCDA. Thank you.“
The royal father however sought the magnanimity of the government to permanently correct the issue of identity by changing the name of the proposed LCDA to either Isinkan or Isokan LCDA.
In his words “You can see a sample of what the peaceful people of Isinkan have been enduring here today. My Distinguished Honourables, sequel to extensive consultations with our people in Isinkan and its adjoining communities, villages and farm settlements, we wish to sincerely convey our delight with the naming of Isinkan as the Headquarters of the new LCDA. We however also wish to respectfully propose the following alternative nomenclatures as the name of the LCDA: Proposed Option I – Ìsìnkàn LCDA Propose Option II – Ìsòkan LCDA. Isinkan means one worship. Isokan means unity. This is our primary identity. We are not quarrelsome people. We are peace lovers. We plead with you to give us an identity that reflects our history, tradition and heritage. Every inch of land in the areas earmarked is Isinkan land. More importantly, it is for identity. We all bear Ondo State today yet, it does not mean that we are all from Ekimogun”
In an interview, the Iralepo said Isinkan is prepared for the LCDA, noting that sons and daughters of the kingdom have raised substantial money in support of the council after the news of the creation. You can see that all Isinkan people at the public hearing today comported themselves as noble people. The individuals that attempted to disrupt the event were from one palace and their identities are no secret to security men. They are not from our communities. Their sponsor wants to dictate our life in a democracy.”
Corroborating the traditional ruler, Mr. Arowosafe Ajagunna, a lawyer from Ikare Akoko, opined that by the rule of LCDA creation, it is only the people of Isinkan and environ that should complain.
“It is a shame. It only shows their actions were premeditated. The effective regulation guiding local government creation is clearly spelt out in the 1999 constitution”.
“It is only the Iralepo and his people in Isinkan that have locus to complain. People from other parts of the state or the extant LGA cannot put mouth. What they tried to do today was illegal and it was good that the Speaker shut them up’ he concluded.