By David Onimisi Lawani
A socio-cultural/pressure group, Akoko Edo Forum (AEF) has declared that it will do whatever it takes within the ambit of the law to secure Akoko-Edo Local Government Area in order to make it a hub and a center of attraction for development for its people once the available resources are effectively harnessed.
Making this disclosure in a communique issued after its inaugural meeting on Saturday, September 4, 2021, via Zoom, the umbrella body of Akoko Edo sons and daughters in Nigeria and the diaspora noted that the recent shooting of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Igarra police division and other sundry challenges facing the LGA informed the need to bring together Akoko Edo sons and daughters in the private and public sectors, to address this and sundry issues in order to make the LGA the envy of all despite its “unenviable status”.
AEF an initiative of Dr. Charles Jagun, an American-based Pharmacist noted that the meeting provided the attendees the opportunity to discuss the core objectives of the Forum as a vehicle for and the desire to support the developmental trajectory of the Akoko Edo Local Government Area (LGA).
He said Akoko Local Government despite being the oldest local government in Nigeria has an unenviable status as one of the least developed amongst the 774 local government areas in the country.
He however emphasized that irrespective of whatever is responsible for the pathetic state of Akoko Edo, the Forum believes it is high time it is checked because, as the saying goes, “all evil requires to succeed is for all good men to do nothing.” The “good people have woken up,” he further stated.
He solicited the support of all participants and other Akoko Edo sons and daughters wherever they might be to take the issue of changing Akoko Edo into a model LGA very seriously and urgently
The group adopted a working document, “Akoko-Edo Development Blueprint”, as the foundation for the formulation of AEF to be used in charting development in all sectors of the LGA.
Condemning the high level of insecurity, kidnapping, and infiltration of the LGA by herders and the recent shooting of the DPO of Igarra, the Forum resolved to immediately raise funds to assist in offsetting the medical bill of the wounded DPO.
The group empowered the AEF Security Committee to develop a sustainable security plan for the LGA and liaise with Akoko Edo Vigilantes in helping to curb the activities of kidnappers while also calling on the Edo State Government to urgently add Akoko Edo Vigilantes into the Edo Vigilante Security Network.
AEF also plans to key into Edo State’s recent announcement to employ 10,000 people as vigilantes and equip same.
It called on Edo State Government to enact the Anti-open grazing law as agreed by the Southern Governors.
As a strategy to address security challenges, the Forum plans t work with neighboring states and LGAs and called on the Royal Fathers in the LGA to ensure herdsmen do not use their domains as settlement. It called for the profiling of youths in the LGA to address the increasing acts of criminality in the area.
AEF called for setting up a process for the establishment of Akoko Edo Trust Fund or Akoko Security Trust Fund to address the insecurity and underdevelopment in the LGA.
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The Forum constituted a finance and fundraising committee to develop and implement a fundraising strategy it for sustainable funding of projects and operations.
It plans to work or partner with other groups, businesses, NGOs, agencies, and other stakeholders interested in developing the LGA.
Meanwhile, a quarterly or half-yearly virtual town hall is to be held with all elected representatives from Akoko Edo adding that arrangement and modalities of the town hall will be perfected by the Select Committee led by Mary Opii & Edith Aiyede.
