From: The Concerned Youth and Stakeholders of Akoko North West, Ondo State
To: The Honourable Minister of Interior, Federal Ministry of Interior, Abuja.
Your Ministerial Neglect and the Failure of Home-Based Representation
Sir,
We, the concerned youth, community leaders, and long-suffering constituents of Akoko North, write to you with a profound sense of betrayal and disillusionment. Our message focuses on the catastrophic and life-threatening condition of the federal roads that crisscross the land that produced you – specifically, the Ikaram-Iyani-Ibaram-Erusu-Imo-Arigidi-Agbaluku-Ikare road and other critical arteries in Akoko North.
This letter is not a plea, but a demand for accountability. As our former House of Representatives member for Akoko North West/North East, and now a sitting Minister of the Federal Republic, you embody a legacy of representation for our people. Yet, the state of our infrastructure tells a story of profound neglect and a failure to translate political ascendancy into tangible development for your homeland.
A Legacy of Failed Promises and Deepening Decay
The roads in question are not mere pathways; they are the economic and social lifelines of our communities. Their current state—a dilapidated, impassable death trap—is a direct indictment of your representation, both past and present. This infrastructure crisis stifles commerce, makes a mockery of healthcare access in emergencies, and turns education into a perilous journey for our children.
It is a tragic irony that a man who now oversees national internal security, including the Federal Fire Service, presides over a constituency where emergency services cannot reach our communities due to roads that have been washed away. Your elevation to the federal executive council, a position of immense influence, has yielded no visible dividends for this fundamental issue.
While you may point to projects in other regions under your ministry’s purview, the continued suffering of your own people on these death-trap roads demonstrates a perplexing and unacceptable disconnect. The concerns we raise are not new. The Akoko Youth Forum and other groups have consistently raised alarms, lamenting the “silence, detachment, and a worrying lack of engagement” from our representatives. Your reported lobbying efforts, if any, have been utterly invisible and ineffective where it matters most—on the ground in Akoko.
A Breach of Trust and a Question of Priorities
The core of representative democracy is accountability. Your failure to address an issue as fundamental as the roads connecting the very communities you once represented in the Green Chamber is a severe breach of the trust we placed in you. Your current role as Minister of Interior places you at the heart of the federal government, with unparalleled access to the President and your cabinet colleagues (The minister of works). This strategic position makes your silence and inaction on our roads not just a failure, but a conscious choice.
We are aware of the potential for high-profile projects, but we must ask: what good is a new federal institution or a national initiative if the roads leading to our towns are an embarrassment and a hazard? Development cannot be selective; it must be foundational. Securing the nation’s interior is a hollow achievement if the interior of your own local government is collapsing due to a lack of basic infrastructure.
Our Non-Negotiable Demands for Immediate Action
Our critique is intended to be a wake-up call. We therefore demand the following immediate and public actions:
- Public Acknowledgement and On-the-Ground Assessment: Issue a formal public statement within 14 days, specifically acknowledging the catastrophic state of the Ikaram-Ikare road and other key federal roads in Akoko North. We demand that you, as the Honourable Minister and our son, personally lead an assessment tour to these roads with community leaders and the media. Do not send a subordinate. See the consequences of the neglect firsthand.
- Transparent and Time-Bound Action Plan: Provide a clear, publicly accessible, and time-bound plan detailing the concrete steps you are taking. This must include:
· Evidence of your direct intervention with the Federal Ministry of Works and the Presidency to declare these roads a national emergency.
· A detailed status report on your engagement with the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) for immediate palliative work and the Ministry of Works for comprehensive reconstruction.
· A clear and definitive timeline for when constituents can expect the commencement of tangible construction work. - Public Town Hall and Account: Convene a public town hall meeting in Akoko North within 30 days, specifically to address the issue of road infrastructure. The people you call your constituents deserve to hear your plans directly, to question you, and to hold you accountable face-to-face. Stop governing from a distant Abuja.
Conclusion
The people of Akoko North are tired of being a footnote in the political careers of their sons and daughters. Your ministerial portfolio is a testament to your political influence; the state of our roads is a testament to your failure to use that influence for your people.
We will no longer accept silence or excuses. The era of accountability is here. We expect your immediate and decisive action. The world is watching.
Yours in the demand for accountable representation,
Signed,
Prince Kayode Bode Ariwajoye, President of Ikaram Youth Forum, National Director of Sports, Akoko Youth Forum. Contact: 08069743304
