Ilaje People Call on Ondo Governor for Development of their Area

By: Michael Mike

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa have been called by Ilaje people of the state to brace up and immediately bring development to their area.

The called was made by the Publicity Secretary, Ilaje Parapo Forum, Prince Edward Akingboye in a statement on Thursday.

Akingboye, while stating that the call was not a rebellion, but rather to conscience, said: “There comes a moment in the life of a people when silence is no longer golden, when docility becomes betrayal, and when unchecked sycophancy becomes a dagger in the chest of justice. That moment, for the Ilaje people and the entire coastal belt of Ondo State, is now.

“Today, we, the Ilaje Parapo Forum, rise to speak not with hostility, but with deep-seated concern. The tides of our ocean have become hostile, our land groans under neglect, our children cry for education, and our elders lament a future stolen in plain sight. Yet, in the corridors of Alagbaka, there is music, dance, and political revelry. But who, we ask, will call Governor Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa for us?”

He said: “Let us be clear: Luck may enthrone a leader, but only vision, wisdom, and performance can sustain governance. Governance is not about flamboyant appearances or ceremonial presence; it is about intentional service delivery, planning, and accountability.

“It grieves us to say that our Governor, our own son, is failing to hear the lamentation of his people in Ilaje. Communities like Ayetoro and entire Gbenevaare being swallowed by the sea with chilling indifference. The ocean no longer knocks, it breaks through, uninvited. Livelihoods vanish. Homes crumble. Generations are displaced. Yet, Ilaje, a region whose oil sustains national coffers lacks a single functional hospital, lacks well-equipped schools, lacks shoreline protection. Is this what we deserve?

“Let the world know: this is not abandonment by oversight; it is calculated neglect.

“Even the Ilaje Education Authority office in Igbokoda, rather than being a hub of intellectual coordination, now resembles a pond flooded and forsaken. The so-called Mega School stands in mockery; its roof sheets curled to the sky like palms begging the heavens. How can we explain this to our children?

“And what of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)? Just two weeks ago, the Commission celebrated its 25th anniversary. A parade of pomp and speeches reached the Governor’s table but not a single tangible legacy was acknowledged in Ilaje. Not a road. Not a shoreline defense. Not a hospital. The MD left without reprimand. Mr. Governor clapped. Yet, the people of Ilaje continue to weep.”

He asked: “Who will tell our Governor that strategic governance is not driven by birthday cakes or party jollof rice, but by documented visions, inclusive planning, and measurable outcomes? Who will remind him that the real work of OSOPADEC is not to organize feasts but to champion recovery plans for a people on the brink of environmental and economic extinction?”

He lamented that: “Let it be known: Ilaje is bleeding. Our children are losing access to education. Our youths are migrating in desperation. Our farmlands are now saline fields. And yet, the machinery of the state is mute.”

He said: “We demand from Mr. Governor:
A clear development blueprint for Ilaje land—covering infrastructure, education, health, and climate adaptation; An audit of NDDC and OSOPADEC’s interventions in Ilaje LGA in the past 10 years; Immediate emergency response to the environmental devastation of our coastline; Stakeholder engagement, including town hall meetings in Ilaje, to enable participatory governance.”

He said: “Governor Ayedatiwa, this is your moment to rise. You are the son of the soil. The son of Ilaje. But bloodlines are not enough. Legacy is not inherited—it is built. You stand on the shoulders of ancestors who gave everything for this land. Do not be remembered for standing idle while it sinks.
This is not hate. This is heritage speaking.
This is not a shout of rebellion. It is a cry for responsibility. This is not bitterness. It is burden.

“We speak from the heart of the creeks—and we will not be silent again.”

Ilaje People Call on Ondo Governor for Development of their Area