Akure, Ondo State – Aggrieved youths from the Irekari Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State have stormed the Governor’s office in Akure to protest the dilapidated state of roads and the lack of social amenities in their communities.

The protesters, who came in large numbers, lamented the absence of hospitals, electricity, and other basic infrastructure in the four towns that make up the LCDA—Afo, Imeri, Idogun, and Idoani. They carried placards with inscriptions such as “Mr Governor, We Are Suffering,” “Irekari is Part of Ondo State,” “No Road, No Bank, No Light,” and “No Hospital, No Court, No Road.”

Speaking on behalf of the youths, Mr. Adewumi Adekola expressed concerns over the worsening condition of roads linking the communities, highlighting that residents’ access to medical facilities has been severely hampered. He cited a recent incident involving a reverend father who died en route to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, after a journey that should have taken less than 30 minutes stretched to about two hours due to poor roads.

Adekola, who read a protest letter signed by himself, Ade Akingbade, and Femi Agbaje, condemned the exclusion of Irekari LCDA from the emergency road intervention projects recently approved by the state government. He also highlighted the relocation of Magistrate and Customary Courts due to road inaccessibility, leaving residents without convenient access to legal services.

The protest letter partly read:

“Our communities – Idoani, Afo, Imeri, and Idogun – have been cut off from the rest of the state for years. We are deprived of basic infrastructure such as good roads, electricity, and access to justice.
“The deplorable condition of the Ipele-Idoani, Ifira-Isua, and Oba-Ikun-Afo-Idoani roads has made life unbearable for our people and heightened security challenges.
“We appeal to Mr. Governor to urgently rehabilitate the Afo-Idoani road, overhaul Idoani General Hospital, restore the relocated courts, improve power supply, renovate Irekari Comprehensive Grammar School, and strengthen local security.”

Addressing the protesters, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Smart Omodunbi Jr., assured them that their grievances would be promptly addressed.

He stated:

“Your letter will be delivered to the governor, who is already aware of your presence here. He has directed that relevant officials visit your communities and take immediate action. I commend you for your peaceful conduct. The governor is passionate about youth-related issues and will ensure your demands receive prompt attention.”

The protest underscores the growing frustration of Ondo youths over decades of neglect and marginalization, particularly in rural communities.