The political landscape of Ijesa North Federal Constituency has been thrust into the spotlight following a heated engagement between Hon. Oluwole Oke, the member representing Oriade-Obokun Federal Constituency, and young constituents from Ward 5, Obokun Local Government. Led by Prince Ade Adeleye, the discussion laid bare years of developmental neglect in the ward, with the lawmaker struggling to justify the disparities in project distribution across the constituency.
The engagement, which began as a call for clarity on developmental priorities, quickly exposed significant cracks in Hon. Oke’s representation. Responding to questions about the absence of critical projects in Ward 5, such as the rehabilitation of roads, schools, and cultural infrastructure, Hon. Oke attributed the challenges to factors beyond his control. He argued that roads in Ward 5 fell under state and local government jurisdiction and accused the community of mismanaging its natural resources.
“The harm done to Ward 5 communities is incurable by your leaders and citizens. You indiscriminately sold your land to gold and mineral miners. You sold all the woods in those beautiful communities without replacing them,” Hon. Oke remarked.
This explanation, however, failed to pacify the constituents, who dismissed his claims as an excuse for inaction. Prince Adeleye countered by highlighting the lawmaker’s inconsistent approach to project facilitation, pointing out that while other wards benefited from monitored and executed projects, Ward 5 was left with abandoned initiatives and unaccounted funds.
Constituents further questioned Hon. Oke’s admission of neglect over his 20-year tenure, citing the lack of progress in reconstructing roads connecting six major communities, rehabilitating primary schools in Ibala, Ijana, and Ijaaregbe, and establishing functional healthcare centers. Prince Adeleye emphasized the demand for accountability:
“Selling lands to miners doesn’t affect facilitating projects to Ward 5. This engagement is not an attack but a clarion call… You have represented this ward and the entire Ijesa North for 20 years, yet we haven’t counted 20 structured impacts in the environment.”
The discourse took a dramatic turn when Mercy Ayodele, an aide to Hon. Oke, allegedly issued a threatening message in a group chat, stating:
“Wole Oke this, Wole Oke that, where is Senator Fadahunsi oooo. I trust Baba Fadahunsi; if you do anyhow, you go collect wotowoto from Baba Fadahunsi.”
This comment, perceived as a threat against constituents raising concerns, sparked widespread condemnation across Ijesa North. Prince Adeleye responded sharply:
“Na una dey spoil political leaders! So you mean if a leader is engaged, the next thing is to expect that the leader dishes out wotowoto! What is next after the so-called WotoWoto? Condolences and Funeral Services abi?”
The exchange has ignited public debate, with many accusing Hon. Oke of deflecting responsibility rather than addressing developmental disparities. Calls for the lawmaker to acknowledge his shortcomings and adopt a more inclusive and equitable approach to representation have intensified.
The incident underscores the urgent need for political leaders to embrace transparency, foster respectful dialogue, and prioritize the interests of all constituents. As tensions persist in Ijesa North, the spotlight remains on Hon. Oke to address these concerns and rebuild trust among his constituents through meaningful action and accountability.
