By Shina Abubakar, Osogbo

The People of Ikoyi town in Isokan Local Government Area of Osun State have lamented over political marginalisation of the town and lack of developmental projects from both the Accord and the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The youths in the town, while calling on the leadership of the two parties to give due political recognition to the town ahead of the forthcoming general elections, they disclosed that the parties may not be welcomed to canvass for votes if their demands are not attended to.

Speaking with newsmen at the weekend, on behalf of the community, the Youth leader, who is a palace chief, Mr Orolade Abiodun appeal to APC leaders in the State, Chief Bisi Akande and Gboyega Oyetola, as well as Governor Ademola Adeleke to allow the town field candidates for legislative elections next year.

He said since the creation of Osun, Ikoyi has never been allowed to field candidate for the House of Representatives when other towns in the Federal Constituency have represented the constituency various times, hence, demands that the APC ceded the ticket to the town to field a competent candidate.

On the State constituency issue, Abiodun explains, “In our constituency, we have two local governments – Irewole and Isokan producing one House of Assembly member. So, ever since the creation of Osun state in 1991, there has been a bilateral agreement to avoid any internal crisis that the candidature will be rotated every four years between the two local governments irrespective of political party and we have been maintaining that ever since.

“Now, there is an indication that is flying around that Governor Adeleke is planning to retain all the House of Assembly members who decamped with him to the Accord Party. This arrangement does not sit well with us.
The current lawmaker representing the constituency is from Irewole and it is the turn of Isokan. We are appealing to the Accord party stakeholders to please, for the sake of equity and fairness, return the ticket to Isokan”.