Elders of Ondo community in Ifon Ose Local Government, has decried worsening insecurity, Underdevelopment in the town, blaming the situation on the prolonged vacancy on their monarch stool.
The concerns were raised by indigenes of the community under the Umbrella of Ifon Improvement Forum (IIF) during a press conference in Akure, where they appealed to the State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to urgently intervene in the lingering chieftaincy crisis.
According to them, the death of the former monarch, Oba Israel Adegoke Adeusi, who was killed by gunmen on November 26, 2020, created a vacuum that has continued to affect the community’s growth and unity.
President of the forum, General Benjamin Badewole, while addressing Press, said the absence of a traditional ruler had negatively affected the social, economic and political fortunes of the ancient town.
He said the prolonged impasse had left the community without representation in the state’s traditional council despite being a first-class stool.
“In the committee of Obas, we are nowhere. We have no voice. Our stool is a first-class stool in this state, so when we have no voice, who speaks for the people?”
“For five and a half years down the line, Ifon does not have an Oba, socially, we are nowhere. If you see anything happening in Ifon, it is through the personal efforts of individuals, not government,” he lamented.
The group further disclosed that insecurity, particularly kidnapping, had worsened in the area, forcing critical institutions to leave the town.
According to the forum, the High Court, Magistrate Court and Customary Court in Ifon had stopped sitting in the community due to security concerns, while the only commercial bank in the town had also relocated.
“You remember that not too long ago, kidnapping was very rampant in the area, we have about six cases.”
He explained that the forum was compelled to establish a security committee to strengthen local security architecture after discovering that only 38 policemen were serving six towns and about 150 camps in the area.
“We spoke to the police and paramilitary agencies and discovered there was manpower shortage, lack of communication gadgets and operational vehicles,” he said.
According to him, the forum raised over N50 million to establish a vigilante outfit in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force.
“We got them vehicles, communication gadgets and licensed weapons. We now have a vigilante group functioning in Ifon,” he disclosed.
The group added that 11 additional operatives were recently recruited, bringing the total number of vigilante personnel to about 35.
The group also accused some contenders to the throne of placing personal interests above the development of the community.