…..Constituents Demand Accountability as Hon. Oluwole Oke Admits Developmental Neglect in Ward 5, Obokun LG
The political landscape of Ijesa North Federal Constituency is witnessing heightened scrutiny following a contentious engagement between Hon. Oluwole Oke, the member representing Oriade-Obokun Federal Constituency, and young constituents from Ward 5, Obokun Local Government Area. The interaction, led by Prince Ade Adeleye, highlighted widespread developmental neglect in the ward and revealed the lawmaker’s struggle to justify the inequitable distribution of projects across the constituency.
What began as a civil discourse on developmental priorities quickly exposed cracks in Hon. Oke’s leadership. When questioned about the lack of critical infrastructure in Ward 5 such as dilapidated roads, abandoned schools, and neglected cultural sites Hon. Oke attributed the challenges to factors beyond his control. He argued that the responsibility for roads in Ward 5 lay with the state and local governments and accused the community of mismanaging its natural resources, which he claimed hindered his ability to facilitate meaningful projects.
“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 stated.
This explanation was met with sharp criticism from constituents, who dismissed his claims. Prince Adeleye pointed out the inconsistency in the lawmaker’s approach to project facilitation. He noted that while engineers were deployed for road construction in other wards, funds disbursed for similar projects in Ward 5 lacked proper oversight, resulting in abandoned initiatives.
Constituents also raised concerns about Hon. Oke’s 20-year tenure, questioning why critical projects such as the reconstruction of roads linking six major communities, the rehabilitation of primary schools in Ibala, Ijana, and Ijaaregbe, and the establishment of functional healthcare centers had not been prioritized. Addressing the lawmaker, Prince Adeleye stated:
“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 controversial turn when Mercy Ayodele, an aide to Hon. Oke, allegedly issued a threatening message in a public group chat. The message, interpreted as an attempt to intimidate critics, read:
“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 perceived threat has sparked widespread outrage across Ijesa North, with residents condemning such intimidation tactics. Responding to the message, Prince Adeleye said:
“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 become a focal point for public discourse, with many accusing Hon. Oke of deflecting criticism rather than addressing the developmental disparities. Constituents are calling on the lawmaker to acknowledge his shortcomings and adopt a more inclusive and equitable approach to representation.
The incident also underscores the need for leaders to foster respectful engagement with constituents, rather than resorting to intimidation. As political tensions simmer in Ijesa North, all eyes are on Hon. Oluwole Oke to see whether he will rise to the occasion, address the concerns raised, and commit to ensuring balanced development across all wards.
