Residents of Odigbo and Ore in Odigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ondo State, yesterday, took to the streets to protest against the plan to appoint an Igbo politician, Nwamara Eucharia, as the caretaker chairman of the LCDA.
The aggrieved individuals carried placards with inscriptions such as “Ada Owerre don’t impose Ada Amuzu on us”, “We have more competent people in Odigbo”, “Betty, take your sister to Imo State”, “Betty, don’t set Odigbo ablaze”, “Don’t pitch us against our Igbo neighbours”, “No justice, no peace”, “We are peace loving people in Odigbo.”
They protested to the Alagbaka Governor’s Office where they sat in front of the gate and chanted solidarity songs.
The leader of the protesters, Akinyon Jimmy, lamented that Nwamara had served as councillor for Ore Ward for over six years.
He said the reason for the protest was to prevail on the government to stop the appointment of Nwamara as the caretaker chairman of Odigbo LCDA. “We want the state government not to allow the governor’s wife, Mrs. Betty Akeredolu, to impose Nwamara on us as the caretaker chairman of Odigbo LCDA.
“In 2016, Nwamara was imposed on us as supervisory councillor for Ore Ward, even though she came last in the election. When other supervisory councillors were removed, Nwamara retained her seat. She was later imposed as the substantive councillor after she lost the primary election.
“The people of Odigbo can decide who will be their leader. We will not allow her to be part of the government in Odigbo.”
Addressing the protesters, Acting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said the government reserved the right to appoint anybody as a caretaker chairman.
He urged the protesters to lobby the government for their preferred choice to be appointed, rather than taking to the streets to protest.
