Youths from Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday paralysed activities at Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s office in Akure over alleged poor development of oil-producing areas in the state.
The youths carried placards with various inscriptions to show their displeasure.
The protesters called for autonomy for Ondo State Oil Producing Development Area (OSOPADEC) to enable it implement its mandate of developing the area.
“OSOPADEC financial autonomy is a goal”, “OSOPADEC 40% can build roads”, “OSOPADEC should stop scamming us”, some of the placards read.
One of the protesters, Ojajuni Olaleye, said sea incursion had taken over major parts of Ilaje without government’s attention.
However, OSOPADEC chairman, Gbenga Edema, told journalists that the protesters were “sponsored by some politicians ahead of 2020 governorship election.”
Mr Edema said no government had been more transparent in handling funds and issues that concern OSOPADEC than Mr Akeredolu.
He said the government had cleared the backlogs of bursary owed by the last administration till 2017, with 2018 to be paid this year.
Edema also said government, through OSOPADEC, embarked on massive construction and rehabilitation of wooden walkways in all villages to the tune of N500 million.
“It is also not true that the wife of the governor is taking funds from OSOPADEC.
“We only collaborated with her on one of her projects, Bemore, in which over 120 girls participated in the programme and were trained in different capacity building programmes like solar power assemblage, bead making and other things,” he said.
