The Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom has expressed deep concern over their exclusion from the first batch of cabinet appointments made by the Executive Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Hon Lucky Ayedatiwa.
Ogele News understands that the governor enjoys the unbridled support of Arogbo Ijaw people with prominents stalwarts and elders in the community pledging support for the government
However, the community in a statement signed by Ijaw youth Council Arogbo clan raised strong objections, citing the move as a blatant disregard for fairness, equity, and justice.
Ese-Odo Local Government, comprising both the Arogbo Ijaws and the Ijaw Apois, has long maintained a tradition of rotating political positions to ensure an equal distribution of power. This practice, rooted in decades of harmonious coexistence, has been a hallmark of their identity as a people with shared development aspirations.
The current administration’s deviation from this established norm has sparked dismay among the Arogbo Ijaws. They lamented that Governor Ayedatiwa, hailing from the neighboring Ilaje Local Government, seemingly overlooked this customary practice by appointing two cabinet members, a Commissioner-nominee and a Special Adviser, exclusively from the Apoi Axis, thereby sidelining the Arogbo extraction.
This move has been deemed unacceptable and, according to the Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom, is perceived as a deliberate strategy to politically relegate their community without a justifiable reason.
While dismissing speculations that an Arogbo man might never hold a position of significance in the current administration, the community appeals to Governor Ayedatiwa to rectify the imbalance. They emphasize the need for the governor to demonstrate a commitment to fairness, justice, and inclusivity by according the Arogbo axis of Ese-Odo Local Government a cabinet position and, at the very least, a full-time board chairman.
The Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom asserts that such actions are crucial for fostering a sense of belonging and unity among the diverse communities in Ondo State. They stress their active participation in the political development of the state and declare their determination to ensure justice, equity, and fairness prevail in this matter. The community urges its members to remain calm while actively pursuing a resolution to the issue.
The statement read in part
