Youths in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Friday asked the state government to rescind its decision in the ongoing creation of new Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in their locality.
The youths who rejected the decision of the state government to create only three LCDAs from the current Akure South local government area and only one LCDA from the current Akure North local government area described such decision as “unjust and unfair”.
In a statement signed by President Akure Youth Coalition, Adekambi Oluwatuyi Daniel, Secretary, Adeyeye Micheal and Oluyi Tayo, the National Organizing Secretary, described the development as “a political exercise aimed at shortchanging the people of Akure”.
According to the youth, “What logical explanation can the government give for creating more LCDAs from a smaller local government than Akure South local government, the state capital? With the proposal of the government, the current Akure South/Akure North federal constituency will now have six LGA/LCDAS another federal constituency will have eight LGA/LCDAS. How logical is this?”.
The youth further stated that, “In every state of the country where LCDAs have been created, including our neighbouring Ekiti, the state capital gets more than any other local government. Why is that of Ondo State different? Who are those pushing this satanic agenda in the government of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who has been absent from office in recent months? What offence has Akure committed to deserve this kind of insulting treatment from the government? ”.
The statement read: “We the people of Akure therefore reject in its totality any LCDA creation that will shortchange our people. We are peace loving people and we therefore urge the government not to carry out any exercise that will threaten the peace we have been enjoying in our communities with a politically motivated exercise.
“The LCDAs as created did not take into consideration the memoranda submitted to the government Committee by Akure Kingdom, which requested for the creation of EIGHT (8) LCDAS from Akure South.
“Creating three LCDAs from Akure South and one from Akure North grossly underrepresents us in terms of human population, voting population, land mass, housing units, utilities and public facilities.
“Akure North with one of the biggest land mass and Akure South with the biggest population and largest contribution to the economy of the state deserve more LCDAs as both LGs are crucial to the development of the state.’’