Indigenes of Owo community in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, where the late ex-Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu hailed from, have appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to pick his deputy from the community.

The indigenes, under the aegis of a socio-cultural group, the Imade Development Association, IDA, said with the move, Aiyedatiwa will honour the memory of his late boss.

According to the group, picking a deputy from Owo will serve as compensation for the untimely death of their prominent son, Akeredolu, who died a few days ago in Germany after a long battle with prostate cancer.

The group, which expressed sadness over the demise of Akeredolu, stated that if the request is neglected, the polarisation of the state along ethnic and political lines might continue to escalate.

During a press briefing, the Chairman of IDA, Segun Ogunbadeniyi, the Secretary, Femi Fadaisi, and the Publicity Secretary, Julius Adesola, maintained that the community will not rest until Aiyedatiwa picks an Owo man as deputy.

Ogunbadeniyi, who read the communiqué on behalf of the group, stressed that with the passing of Akeredolu, who hails from Owo, it is crucial to safeguard the interests and aspirations of the town.

“In our opinion, the joint ticket that expires in February 2025 is Owo/Ilaje. We do not understand any calculations outside of it.

“Whoever picks the ticket of the APC or PDP next year can therefore decide which zone to produce the Deputy Governor.

“Any attempt to erase Owo from the calculation until February 2025 by Aiyedatiwa, in our opinion, is unfair, not equitable, and can cause division in body politics,” he said.

The group maintained that there are prominent Owo indigenes that are capable of being deputy governors.

The names reeled out that should be considered for the position include Hon. Niran-Sule Akinsuyi, who the group said was in the trenches with Akeredolu during the 2016 elections; the Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly; Hon. Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi; Mr. Zach Adetula; and Chief Jamiu Ekungba.

“Picking from this list will be a fair deal for all stakeholders. The current situation is a joint ticket between Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa, which they assiduously worked for,” he added.