By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
The Ota – Awori extraction of the Ado – Odo – Ota Federal Constituency, Ogun State, haa demanded fairness and justice in the rotation of the Constituency seat ahead of the 2027 elections in the state, a development that may make Honourable Tunji Akinosi’s quest for a return ticket to the National Assembly on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) a forlorn dream.
Reading the communique issued at the end of their enlarged meeting inside the Ijamido Hall, Ota yesterday under the aegis of Ota – Awori Youth Movement comprising Ota Youth Assembly, Ota Traditional Youth Council among others, Chief Ojogbon Edet Ansa and Prince Ojugbele Adeniji, President of Ota Youth Assembly, they lamented that despite the strategic importance of Ota – Awori in terms economic power and a major determinant of electoral outcome in the state, it has not had its fair share of opportunity to occupy the Ado -Odo – Ota Federal Constituency seat.
The Ado -Odo – Ota Federal Constituency comprises Ota state constituency 1(Ota – Awori) and Ado/Igbesa state constituency,. The current member of the 10th National Assembly representing the federal constituency is Honourable Tunji Akinosi, an engineer and former commissioner of Forestry. He is from Ado/Igbesa. His immediate predecessor, Hon. Jimoh Ojugbele, is also from Ado/Igbesa.
Ojugbele took over from Hon. Babatunde Ogunola, also from Ado/Igbesa. The last time someone from the Ota Awori extraction occupied the Ado – Odo – Ota Federal Constituency seat was 15 years ago (2007 – 2011).
The youth appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Dapo Abiodun and the All Progressives Congress(APC) leaders at the state and national levels to consider the political plight of their area regarding the Ado/Odo/Ota Federal Constituency seat and resolve the injustice in the next general elections.
“We demand fairness in the rotation of the House of Representatives seat, with Ota axis taking its rightful turn in 2027. We urge the leaderships and influential stakeholders to respect the unwritten principle and ensure equitable representation for Ota,,” the communique reads in part.
The Ota – Awori Youth Movement expressed the fear that should their people’s legitimate and reasonable demands be ignored, they may be compelled to mobilise massively for any political party that aligns with their needs, interest and collective aspirations irrespective of prevailing political affiliation.
