The indigenes of Ilaje in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State has backed President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Kolade Akinjo as Representative of Ondo State on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The indigenes in a solidarity walk on Friday in Igbokoda said it was a fair appointment for Akinjo, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart and immediate past member, representing Ilaje/Ese -Odo Federal Constituency on the NDDC board.
It would be recalled that Tinubu on Aug. 29 announced a 17 board members of the NDDC, appointing Ifedayo Abegunde as Executive Director and Kolade Akinjo as State Representative, both from Ondo State on the board.
Meanwhile, the appointment of Akinjo has generated controversies as members of All Progressives Congress (APC) claimed that the appointment of Akinjo was not fair to party members.
Some of the indigenes who spoke during the solidarity walk, said Akinjo deserved the appointment, being a good representatative of the people, they commended Tinubu for his government of national unity
They also said that the agitators over the appointment of Akinjo should sheath their swords over the appointment, saying the oil which made Ondo State to be rated as oil producing state was domicile in Ilaje and Ese-Odo LGA’s.
Mr Femi Akinlo, former leader of PDP in Ilaje LGA, said that Akinjo deserved the appointment in spite of being in opposition party, adding that he was a grassroot moboliser who has impacted meanfully in the lives of the downthroden in his constituency.
“I commend Tinubu for the appointment , I think he stands on his promise to form a government of national unity which is devoid of partisan politics I think is a good development to move the country forward,” he said.
Mrs Lucy Ojajuni, Women Leader in Ilaje LGA also said Akinjo’s appointment was a reflection of his good deeds and represention to the people of Ilaje/Ese-Odo constituency who has performed well.
“We women in Ilaje thank Tinubu for appointing our son, it’s a well deserved appointment, Akinjo have served the people and needs to be compensated, let us all support him, ” Ojajuni said.
Another indigene, Temitope Olowolayemo, an APC member from Ese-Odo LGA said that Akinjo deserved the appointment, saying he was from the area that produced the oil for Ondo to be recognised as oil producing state.
“Akinjo is a son of the soil, he deserved the appointment and of course from the mandate area of oil production, I think agitators should sheath their swords, so that we can move forward in this state and country,” Olowolayemo said.
The indigenes staged their solidarity walk from college road, through Naval base road to Sabo junction in Igbokoda, Ilaje LGA.