Power Rotation in Ese-Odo Remains Sacrosanct – Agboola Insists Arogbo Must Produce Next Assembly Member
A former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, H.E. Ajayi Alfred Agboola, has reaffirmed the long-standing political power-sharing arrangement in Ese-Odo Local Government Area, stressing that it is the turn of Arogbo to produce the next member of the State House of Assembly.
In a strongly worded statement amid rising political activities ahead of forthcoming elections, Agboola described the rotation agreement between Apoi and Arogbo blocs as “sacrosanct,” noting that it has been instrumental in sustaining peace, unity, and mutual trust in the area since 1999.
According to him, the arrangement conceived by leaders of both communities; was deliberately designed to prevent political tension and ensure fairness in representation.
“The issue of power rotation between Apoi and Arogbo has been a convenient and peaceful arrangement since 1999. It was established to foster unity, not to create chaos or mistrust among our people,” he stated.
Agboola, who served as Chairman of Ese-Odo Local Government between 2003 and 2007 under the same arrangement, recalled past attempts by some political actors to undermine the agreement. He cited an incident where certain leaders allegedly tried to alter the zoning formula for the House of Assembly seat.
He explained that the move was resisted across party lines, leading to a unified decision by voters from both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the then Alliance for Democracy (AD) to elect the late Hon. Earnest Anifowose from Apoi (Ojuala), in order to preserve the integrity of the rotation system.
The former deputy governor expressed concern over what he described as “rumoured attempts” to disrupt the existing order, warning that any deviation could trigger avoidable political tension.
He commended stakeholders and residents of Ese-Odo for speaking out against such moves, noting that many “peace-loving individuals” have already rejected any plan capable of undermining the established arrangement.
Agboola also made a direct appeal to political actors, including Hon. Toyin Allen, urging them not to allow themselves to be used to destabilise the long-standing harmony between the two blocs.
“Your name has been written in gold; it must not be altered negatively. We must all protect this arrangement that has guaranteed peaceful coexistence between Apoi and Arogbo,” he said.
Reiterating his position, Agboola maintained that no individual, regardless of status or influence, should be allowed to tamper with the agreement for personal political gain.
He further warned that abandoning the zoning system could result in serious consequences, including division and crisis within the local government.
The former deputy governor concluded by calling on all political stakeholders in Ese-Odo to uphold the principles of fairness, unity, and respect for established norms, emphasizing that adherence to the rotation formula remains key to sustaining peace in the area.