Afon People Decry Domination of Imeko, Want to Produce The Next Chairman of Imeko-Afon LG
The people of Afon community which is also known as Isokan zone in Imeko-Afon local government area of Ogun state have decried what they called “an agelong domination, repression and marginalisation of the the area by Imeko people in the Ketu zone of the local government. An organisation in the community called Progressive Patriots , has demanded equal representation and opportunities for the zone, appealing to Governor Dapo Abiodun to support the zone in producing the next Chairman of the local government.
Progressive Patriots through its Chairman, Biyi Ogunrinola, at a news conference in Abeokuta on Thursday stated that Imeko-Afon Local Government remains the collective patrimony, belonging to both Ketu and Isokan divisions, not Ketu division alone.
He added that it is the turn of Afon zone to produce the Local Government Chairman, saying that the zone would no longer accept anything less.
“Presently Imeko Ward and Ketu Division have the following political offices: Member, Federal House of Representatives, Member, Federal Character Commission, Ogun State Commissioner for Sports Development ,, Member, Ogun State College of Science and Tech, SSA on Media.
“ Others are Consultant to Governor on Media, Immediate Past LG Chairman , Immediate Past Secretary LG , Executive Secretary LG and LG Party Chairman,” he said.
He appealed to Dapo Abiodun as well as the leaders of All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state to recognise the plight and take corrective measures to address the injustice and ensure that the upcoming local government election is free, fair, and transparent.
“ Provide equal opportunities for all zones to produce the Local Government Chairman and political offices. Since 1997, all elected Executive Chairmen have come from Imeko Township and Ketu division. This is a clear indication of political sectionalism and cheating, which we can no longer tolerate”, Ogunrinola noted.
He added that the demand was just and reasonable, saying that the people of Isokan division, Afon zone would be expecting positive responses from the Executive Governor of Ogun State and APC state leadership.
“ We will no longer accept marginalization and exclusion. It is time for equal representation and opportunities for our zone. It is important to address the pressing issue that has plagued the Afon division popular known as Zone 2 comprising : Afon, Owode – Obada, Agboro/ Olorunda, and Atapele Wards of Imeko-Afon Local Government.
“Since its creation in 1996, despite our significant contributions to the agitation for the creation of our local government, our zone has been systematically denied the opportunity to produce the Local Government Chairman, a position monopolized by the Imeko Township and Ketu division,” he said.
Ogunrinola said that what is happening between Imeko/Ketu division and Afon is liking to the unwillingness of both the Ogun Central and East Senatorial Districts to support Ogun West to occupy the governorship of the state since 48 years of its existence.
He said “We are however saying enough is enough, this injustice and inequality should not be allowed to continue, it is the turn of Afon zone to produce the next chairman of Imeko/Afon Local Government”.
