Some residents in Ijaw and Akoko communities in Ondo state stormed the streets to lament the formation of 33 new local council development areas (LCDAs) on Thursday.
The Ondo State government sent a bill to the state House of Assembly concerning developing 33 new LCDAs from the 18 existing local government areas.
However, the government’s decision didn’t sit well with leaders of the Ijaw and Akoko communities, who, at a public hearing on the bill on Thursday, accused the government of trying to give away their ancestral land through the exercise.
The aggrieved Ijaw and Akoko leader, however, gave the government a 21-day ultimatum to reverse the alleged ceding of the lands to Irele and Ilaje local government areas in the exercise.
During their protest at the state House of Assembly, some of their traditional rulers, including Sunday Amiseghan, the Kalasuwei of Apoi land, and Pere Egbunu, the Agadagba of Arogbo-Ijaw, appealed to the state government to rescind its decision because it leaves their people at a disadvantage in the state.
They maintained that instead of ceding parts of their communities in Ese-Odo Local Government Area to other areas, more LCDAs should be created from Ese-Odo.
Speaking to pressmen during the protest, Kalasuwei of Apoi land, Sunday Amiseghan, said, “We are the only non-Yoruba speaking people in Ondo State. We are ready to defend our cultural and traditional identity.
“We are making our observations regarding the creation of LCDAs. The Ijaws have been marginalised a long time ago in Ondo State.
“We are special people in Ondo State because we have bitumen and abundant oil. We should be given special condition. We demand for more LCDAs in Ese-Odo. We will never concede one inch of our land to either Ilaje or Ikale. The Ondo State Government must withdraw that map.”
Similarly, the Chairman of the Ondo branch of the Ijaw National Congress, Bonsuwei Ominidouha, submitted that “We are a peace loving people. We are calling on the Ondo State government to stop the nonsense. INC will fight the course to make sure that one inch of our land will not be ceded.
“The whole of Okparama 1 and II and Ogidigba are ceded to Ilaje. Part of Apoi 4 and 5 are ceded to Irele Local Government. We do not want to fight with anybody. It was failure of leadership that led to the Ijaw/Ilaje crisis, and we do not want a repeat of that war.”
However, the lawmakers, in their response, assured fairness as they received presentations from groups and concerned citizens.
The state government had also earlier called for calm, saying nothing is final until the assembly concluded its work.
