This is just as a socio-political group in the state, Owo Integrity Forum (OIF), condemned attack s on the nominee and called on government to ignore those it accused of fanning the embers of division in the state. The group also cautioned groups and individuals against working against the interest of the state.
In the past one week, newspapers and social media have been awashed with different reactions to the nomination. Groups like the Malokun Boys and Forest Soldiers, the Coastal Frontiers, the Niger Delta Youths Movement(NDYM) and Niger Delta Christian Leaders Forum (NDCLF), have all spoken against the nomination of Ajasin.
The NDCLF, in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari dated July 22 and copied to the Vice President,Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki,S peaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara among others, said the nomination was contrary to the provisions of the NDDC Act 2000.
Jointly signed by the Chairman, NDCLF Elders’Forum, Primate Samuel Ayodele, the Vice Chairman, Bishop F.I Olugbemi and the Legal Adviser, Barr. J.O Okorisa, the group said the appointment of NDDC board is governed by section 2 subsection 1 of the Ac
“It is an unassaillable fact that the said Ajasin is not from the oil producing area of Ondo State where the position is strictly reserved for in accordance with the provision of the NDDC Act 2000 Cap No 6 Law of Federal Republic of Nigeria.The said Ajasin is from Owo in the northern Senatorial district.
“It is on record that right from inception of the establishment of the Commission,all the previous members of the Board from Ondo State were selected and nominated from Ilaje Local Government,which is the only mandate area.
“We believe that the nomination of Ajasin from the upland area was done in error and we are calling on President Buhari to make amend. Consequently, we urge the President to comply with the provision of Section 2 subsection 1 of the NDDC Act 2000 by ordering the replacement of Ajasin with a bona fide indigene of Ilaje local government,” the group urged.
But in a statement signed and made available to journalists in Ibadan by the President of OIF, Comrade Segun Adetula, he said indigenes of the state are perturbed by the propaganda of some groups from Ilaje area of the state, saying it’s no longer business as usual where money meant for projects will be squandered.
“The act that established NDDC states in clear terms in paragraph 2b that one person who shall be an indigene of an oil producing area shall be appointed to the board and the reference to an area was defined by specific mention of the respective oil producing areas which include; Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross-River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers State. There is no reference to any particular locality.
“If Owo could allow an Akoko man, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, to head the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo, why are they campaigning against Ajasin’s nomination? Going by the antecedents of the Ajasin family in the development of Ondo State, positive change and development projects should be expected in a couple of months,” the group argued