By Debby Olutayo
OGUN WEST: The people of Yewa region of Ogun state has frowned on the recent decision of Ogun State government to chose Ota town above Ilaro, the headquarters of Ogun West as distribution point for the foods and other items of the palliative measure for the people of the area on the 14days mandatory lockdown in the state.
According to a vox pop conducted by Startrend Int’l magazine in the wake of murmurings that followed the decision at the inauguration of task force committee across the other four local government areas of the senatorial district, those interviewed totally against the decision of the Dapo Abiodun-led administration of Ogun state to tactically change the constitutional position that has been in operation even before the advent of the fourth Republic in 1999.
Recall, all the four local government councils, including Yewa South that housed Ilaro, which the constitutional headquarters of Ogun West were asked to go to Ota, in Ado-Odo/Ota local government on Friday, April 3, 2020 to collect their allocations of the Ogun state palliative measure to cushion the effect of the fourteen days mandatory lockdown in the state.
A decision which observers of the scene described as an attempt to technically and surreptitiously move the senatorial headquarters from Ilaro to Ota.
The observers were of the opinion that Ilaro that had been the senatorial headquarters constitutionally is gradually being ridiculed and insulted by this action of the present regime in Ogun state.
They noted that the decision might not be unconnected with the town being the home of the present deputy governor of the state, a situation they said could breed malice and rancour among the loving people of the senatorial District.
According to an elderly retired administrator from Yewa North who said, “Can the governor who hails from Iperu-Remo asks Ijebu-Ode, which is the headquarters of Ogun East to come to Iperu-Remo or Ikenne local government secretariat to collect their items that originally came from Abeokuta, the state capital?
“Or asks the local government in Abeokuta, the state capital and headquarters of Ogun Central to go to Odeda or Obafemi-Owode or Ifo local government secretariats to collect their items?
“Sincerely, whoever is behind this decision is not doing this administration any good, but trying to bring divisions between the people of the senatorial district, and Governor Dapo Abiodun should use his good office to investigate why this anomalies with a view to put a stop for future occurrence.”
Some chairmen and Secretaries of clubs and associations in Imeko/Afon, Ipokia, Yewa South and Yewa South who spoke with StarTrend Int’l magazine were disappointed with the idea of technically turning Ota town to the senatorial headquarters because the present deputy governor came from the axis.
They noted that this type of idea has never occurred in the state since its creation, and now called on Governor Abiodun to re-right the wrongs and should warn those behind this illegality not to set the citizens of Ogun West against themselves.