...Protesters march peacefully through the town, demand inclusion of roads in 2026 Appropriation Bill
Residents of Ese-Akoko in Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Tuesday, staged a peaceful protest within the town to draw the attention of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to the deplorable condition of their roads, which they described as a major source of suffering and economic paralysis.
The protesters, made up of men, women, and youths, marched through the dusty, impassable roads of the community carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Aiyedatiwa, come to our rescue,” “Include Ese roads in the Appropriation Bill,” “We are tired of government neglect,” and “Our town deserves to live.”
Speaking during the protest, community leaders lamented that Ese-Akoko, popularly known as Ese City, has suffered decades of government abandonment, with successive administrations failing to rehabilitate or construct the major access roads linking the town to neighbouring communities like Irun, Ogbagi, and Afin.
“Our economy is paralysed and we are in danger of total disconnection from the rest of Ondo State,” one of the protesters said. “Even Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa could not access our town during his campaign because of the terrible road network. This has made us feel forgotten by the government.”
Ese-Akoko, known for its rich cultural heritage and agrarian lifestyle, was once a bustling hub for trade and agricultural activities. The popular Ese Market, which used to attract traders from neighbouring towns and parts of Ekiti State, has since lost its vibrancy due to the poor state of the roads.
Farmers now find it difficult to transport their produce to other markets, while market women trek long distances to neighbouring towns for trading. The economic hardship, according to residents, has forced many youths to migrate to cities, leaving behind an aging population struggling to survive.
Community elders recalled that previous administrations, from the late Chief Adebayo Adefarati to Dr. Olusegun Agagu and Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, all promised to fix the roads but failed to fulfill their pledges. They added that the situation further deteriorated during the administration of the late Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
“Life has become unbearable for our people,” another protester lamented. “We appeal to Governor Aiyedatiwa to personally visit Ese-Akoko and see our condition. We have suffered enough.”
The residents, while commending Governor Aiyedatiwa’s recent rural road initiatives across the state, appealed to him to extend the gesture to Ese-Akoko and include their major roads in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
They also urged political appointees and representatives from Akoko land to champion the cause of Ese-Akoko at the state level, stressing that the people deserve to live and enjoy the dividends of democracy.
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