Appointments: Group accuses Gov. Aiyedatiwa of marginalising Irele Zone II, Ikale East LCDA

Party leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Irele local government area, under the aegis of Irele People’s Alliance, IPA have expressed dissatisfaction with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa-led administration over distribution of political appointments in the local government.

The group in a statement made available to journalists said only one of the two constituent zones in Irele Local Government has taken all the political appointments approved so far by Governor Aiyedatiwa and leaving the other zone with nothing.

The Secretary of IPA, Hon Sola Olaoluwa Friday, in the statement, gave expression to the zone’s disappointment, noting that the party leaders in the axis are not encouraged to work as a result of the one-sided nature of the political appointments.

“Irele local government is a combination of two political zones with ten political wards. Meanwhile, Irele zone II alone has more than six communities/kingdoms, including Iyansan, Ome, Akotogbo, Ijosun, Ajagba, among others, yet political leadership and positions are concentrated in Irele township alone.

“From Irele alone, the governor has appointed Mr Emmanuel Igbasan as Commissioner and also appointed Professor Simidele Odimayo and Summy Smart Francis as Special Advisers.

The aggrieved group emphasized that the incumbent member of the House of Representatives for Irele/Okitipupa Federal Constituency and incumbent Member of the House of Assembly are from Irele township.

“This cannot be justified under any circumstance and it is not acceptable to us. We call on Mr Governor to correct the anomaly in the interest of fairness and equity so that it doesn’t affect the commitment of the party members and leaders.” Olaoluwa said.

The group explained that the zone has always given its absolute loyalty to the party and has been of steady support to the administration of late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu from the beginning, stating that the zone had obviously paid its dues  and has never deviated from the party.

It notes: “Our people are not happy that is the plain truth. Irele Zone II are traditional members of the All Progressives Congress with a long history of evident commitment and loyalty to the party. The way it is as at today, we are wondering if we are still being regarded as bonafide members of the party because it is obvious that we are being discriminated against unjustly.

It adds that “Many of the party leaders may not want to tell the governor this truth but it is a fact that this is a serious grouse that our people hold against the governor at the moment. This imbalance has to be addressed before things get out of hand.”