HIS EXCELLENCY,
ARAKUNRIN OLUWAROTIMI ODUNAYO AKEREDOLU SAN, CON.
EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR,
ONDO STATE.
Your Excellency,
RE: REJECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMANSHIP APPOINTMENT OF OWO NORTH-WEST LCDA BY HON. MAXWELL OLAYEMI OMOSUWA
FOR THE RECORD
Our attention has been drawn to the Open Letter of Hon. Maxwell Olayemi Omosuwa to the Executive Governor of our dear Sunshine State,HE, Arakunrin Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN conveying the rejection of his appointment as the Vice-Chairman of Owo North-West LCDA even after he duly attended and participated in the screening process in the first place and having been confirmed by Ondo State House of Assembly.
This decision is very unthoughtful, wicked and a symbol of ingratitude ! In fact, to the members of Ondo State Hallowed Chamber, this decision amounts to waste of the precious time of the distinguished Lawmakers.
Anyway, as a people, we respect Hon. Omosuwa's right of decision to decline this appointment, however there is quite an option open to us to ignore it , but for posterity's sake, the Concerned Youths of Emure-Ile find it necessary to place some facts before the general public in order to objectively justify who between the two Communities is desperate and selfish; and has not been fairly treated over the years of the political marriage of inconvenience between the two communities as being portrayed by Hon. Maxwell Omosuwa in his open Letter to Mr. Governor.
Contrary to the efforts of Hon. Maxwell Omosuwa and the Uso Community to create an impression of favoritism and unfair political trajectory in our shared ward, available undisputed records clearly show that Uso has consistently enjoyed significant government patronage even at the expense of Emure - Ile Kingdom. Yet Emure - Ile people have continued to tolerate and promote genuine and sincere brotherliness over the years. Several examples abound to testify to this claim but we will mention few instances to disabuse the mind of our Talk and Do governor and those of the general public:
1. Uso Community has at the exclusion of Emure - Ile over time produced individuals who had served in the highest positions of Authority in Owo Local Government Administration and no individual from Emure - Ile has protested or raised a finger for once over this despite the fact that we share the same Political Ward with them.
For Example;
(i) Hon. Maxwell Olayemi Omosuwa recently in (2020-2023) completed a 3-year tenure as Vice-Chairman of Owo Local Government even when Barr. Alaba Eniola - Ajipe was openly denied of the Chairmanship position of the same Election that produced the Chairman ( Hon. Samuel Adegbegi) of APC that Hon. Maxwell Omosuwa later picked to deputize.
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| Hon. Maxwell Olayemi Omosuwa |
(ii) Hon. Adeola Fagbayigbo who served as Owo Local Government Chairman (2009-2011) under Dr. Olusegun Mimiko-led Administration of Labour Party ( LP) for a full term of 3 years also hails from Uso.
(ii) Otunba Olusola Owadasa is a native of Uso and served as a Vice-Chairman to Hon. Oluwole Folahanmi ( 2016-2017) both of PDP before they were sacked by Akeredolu-led administration in the same Owo Local Government.
(iii) One Hon. Dupe Fayehun also an indigene of Uso served as Vice-Chairman to Late Hon. Akin Arowolo Aruwajoye of PDP in Owo Local Government between 2008-2009 before they were also sacked by Mimimo-led Administration.
(iv) It is on record that the only State Appointment made from our Ward under APC-led administration from 2016 in Ondo Stste was made in Uso in person of Hon. Okeowo despite the huge political deficit the APC Party periodically records in Uso as they always support the opposition party - PDP.
(v) The record speaks for itself that it was Emure - Ile that delivered a bulk vote for the Labour Party of HE, Dr. Olusegun Rahman Mimiko while Uso people voted for Late Dr. Olusegun Agagu PDP but when the Ward was to be compensated for the result of the Election, a Mega School Project was built in Uso while Emure - Ile that delivered their votes to the Labour Party was only assisted to complete the Community Town Hall which before then Asiwaju Segun Ojo had built to the roofing stage. This made Asiwaju Segun Ojo, the Hon. Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economy Planning under Adefarati-led administration to insist at the Elemure's Palace that Gov. Mimiko would not be allowed to commission the Hall when he visited the Community during his Second Term Campaign Tour.
*2* It is quite interesting that in all these, Emure - ile was a co-participant and co-traveller ,and has been supporting Uso people at various times despite these political inequalities.There is nothing like animosity, jealousy and envy of any sort on the part of Emure-Ile people whatsoever.
*3* In all the instances cited above, Emure - Ile people never at any point in time protested that undue political advantages were being conferred on the above mentioned Uso indigenes at the detriment of Emure - Ile people. During Election periods at both the Local Government and State Government levels, Emure - Ile people would still vote maximally for the Progressives Party which the Community is noted for.
4. For the purpose of emphasis, Emure-ile has a larger population compared to Uso. For instance, while Emure-Ile has Eighteen (18) Political Units, Uso only boasts of Fourteen (14). The decision of the Ondo State Government reflects the recommendation of the Prince Lanke Odogiyan Committee on Local Government Creation in ONDO state. The Committee collated submitted Memoranda from Members of the Public and the Ondo State Government, and after thoughtful consideration, recognizing Emure-Ile's population and capacity as well as deficit politically decided to cite the Headquarters of Owo North-West in Emure - Ile. One would have thought any objection to Government decision would be based on sound reasoning with evidential value rather than open demonstration of self- aggrandizement and malicious tendencies.
In light of the above, we strongly frown at the unwarranted envy and enmity openly displayed by the people of Uso against Emure-ile recently made more pronounced while demanding for LCDA. In the quest to have a local government council, now LCDA, Uso people have consistently refused to identify with Emure-Ile even when the people of Ipele, Ipenmen , Isuada and others accepted that Emure-Ile should be the headquarters. They often threatened to return to Oba-Ile in Akure-North Local Government where they came from. This fact is in the public domain.
The recent political successes of Emure-Ile considerably are the results of understanding, perseverance, patience, unwavering loyalty and friendliness extended to all even beyond Uso. Emure-ile remains a peace-loving community ;and is not harboring any acrimony or bitterness or vendetta toward Uso and her people. We call on them to reciprocate the respect, peace, support, and friendship we have extended to them over the years.
It must be revealed that Barr. Eniola Ajipe is the Ailoyen of Emure-Ile Kingdom. He had served the government of Ondo State too as a Personal Assistant to Hon. Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economy Planning, Asiwaju Segun Ojo - De General under Alliance for Democracy. After the defunct AD, he joined ACD which later became AC . He contested under this platform for House of Assembly, Owo Constituency 2 in 2006/2007 but lost to Hon. Tunji Dairo of Labour Party. He vied again under ACN in 2011 against Hon. Tunji Dairo (LP) from Ipele and Otunba Owadasa of PDP from Uso, but lost again to the LP candidate. He contested for Owo LG Chairman two times. In all these, huge fund and resources were committed. In spite of all hurdles, he was resolute, calm and unperturbed.
Ajipe was consistent and unruffled, reliable and dependable, trustworthy and hardworking as a politician, democrat and community leader.He joined notable Leaders in Owo Local Government to build APC Party from the scratch in Owo Local Government when he was personally asked by Mr. Governor to serve as the Pioneer Local Government Secretary of APC in Owo Local Government, the position he held from 2014 to February 2021 when the current Party Executive emerged.Every APC Leader in the Local Government would attest to his ingenuity and robust initiatives in laying a solid Foundation for the Party in Owo Local Government.
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| High Ch.(Barr.) Eniola Alaba Ajipe-Ailoyen |
Ailoyen contributed immensely to build the APC from the scratch in Uso/,Emure-Ile Ward Eleven in particular and Owo in general. He has only served as Local Government Secretary of the APC recognizably to the present Akowa of Iloro,Owo, High Ch. Sydney Ogunleye as the party LG Chairman.Such individual aside consideration for Emure-IIe Community should be greatly encouraged, duly rewarded and generally supported by all especially the people of Uso at this critical time .
This is the reason we hail the decision of HE, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for this huge considerations and appointment as concerned youths of Emure-Ile Kingdom. Thank you our dear governor !
We therefore appeal too to Uso people to follow the path of honour as the chairmanship position shall be open for contest very soon. It is abundantly clear now that our destiny as sister town is one and indivisible and our aspirations in this marriage should be single and inseparable.
In conclusion, we express our gratitude to the government of Arakunrin Odunayo Akeredolu as a community for granting Emure-Ile the Headquarters of Owo North-West LCDA and appointing our amiable son and a loyal and dependable party man, Barr. Alaba Eniola Ajipe, as the Pioneer Caretaker Chairman. We pledge continuous support and loyalty to the Administration of Governor Akeredolu, promising to remain a law-abiding Community while wishing you a speedy recovery.
E - Signed
Comr. Odunayo FamusiwaP
rince Aderotimi Adeyefa
For themselves and On behalf of Concerned Youths of Emure-Ile
November 29, 2023
