A socio-political group in Kwara State, the Moro Omoluabi Group, MOG has decried what it called the continuous political marginalisation of the people of Moro Local Government in the political schemes of things in the Kwara North Senatorial Zone of the North Central State.
In a statement issued at the end of its expanded meeting in Ilorin yesterday and signed by Chief Theophilus Sunday Oyebiyi, Leader of the group; Dr. Bolaji Alabi Afolabi, Convener of the group and six others, the MOG maintained that following the creation of Moro L.G.A in 1976, and in the Political Transition programme of the then Military Administration of Muritala/Obasanjo firmly in place, Local Government elections were held throughout the country in 1977 on a non-party basis, and the new Moro Local Government created in 1976, participated fully.
It added that with the collapse of the second republic and the emergence of the third republic until the present time begins the removal and woes of Moro Local Government, especially after the new delimitation of constituency when Moro Local Government a predominantly of Yoruba extraction was moved and grouped to Kwara North with Baruten, Kaiama (Batunu & Boko-Baru) and Edu/Patigi (Nupe).
According to MOG, Available elected positions in Kwara North are:
a. Senator to be produced and rotated by five LGA of Baruten, Kaiama, Edu, Patigi, & Moro
b. House of Representatives to be rotated between Baruten & Kaiama LGA
c. House of Representatives also to be rotated among Moro/Edu/Patigi LGA.
It insisted that since after the new deliniation of consistency and Moro being moved to Kwara North, with other four Local Governments, “we have been consistently marginalized and denied the chance to be elected into any of the available slots meant to be produced and rotated amongst the five Local Government areas.”
The group maintained that “all our pleas and diplomatic shuttle within the rest four Local Governments Areas of Baruten, Kaiama, Edu and Patigi to see reason and concede our turn to us on rotation were stoutly rebuffed by them. They have arrogated all the positions to themselves, while continue to use Moro Local Government Area as tool.”
It presented the breakdown of representation in the House of Representatives and Senate as follows:
1. BREAKDOWN (Reps)
2. PATIGI LGA = 12 Years (Cumulatively till date)
3. EDU LGA = 16 Years (Cumulatively by
2027)
4. MORO LGA= NIL
BREAKDOWN (Senate)
PATIGI LGA = 4 Years
EDU LGA = 8 Years
BARUTEN LGA = 8 Years
KAIAMA LGA = 8 Years by 2027
MORO LGA = NIL
The group therefore maintained that “It is clear from the above that there is a “Sykes-Picot” agreement between the Batunu-Bokobaru and Nupe people of Kwara North to consistently deny Moro people the senatorial seat in Kwara North. Similarly the same “Skyes-Picot” agreement exists between the Nupe people of Patigi Local Government and Nupe people of Edu Local Government to deny the people of Moro the House of Representative seat in her Federal Consistency.”
It urged Kwara North Stakeholders and Political players must think sincerely, without deceit, the unification of the enclave called Kwara North Senatorial District, since “It is always difficult to count on the cooperation of a man who knows that his RIGHTS are being trampled upon knowing that he is being denied what EVERYBODY else is enjoying, without exerting any extra effort”
