“GOVERNOR AIYEDATIWA GAVE US HOPE—PLEASE DON’T LET IFEDORE BE ROBBED AGAIN,” SAYS HON. TOPE KOMOLÀFE AS HE APPEALS OVER RAZAK OBE’S REPLACEMENT.
Hope turned into heartbreak for us in Ifedore Local Government Area after the painful and unexpected replacement of our dear son, Engr. Razak Obe, whose federal nomination initially brought us unprecedented joy. The moment His Excellency, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, nominated Engr. Obe to the Board the Southwest Development Commission, our people felt seen—after years of political abandonment, we felt counted.
As the representative of Ifedore in the Ondo State House of Assembly, I cannot hide the pain and deep sense of betrayal that has taken over the hearts of our people since the news of this replacement broke. It is not just a political shift; it is an emotional wound. For nearly twenty years, we have waited patiently for a meaningful federal appointment—something to rekindle our hope that Ifedore matters in the larger Nigerian equation. When Engr. Razak Obe’s name was announced, we celebrated not just the man, but the promise of inclusion that his nomination represented.
Governor Aiyedatiwa’s action gave Ifedore a new breath of political life. I must commend His Excellency for identifying competence, loyalty, and performance in Engr. Obe. He is not just our son—he is a seasoned technocrat with proven track records. As Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources in Ondo State, his impact was loud and his service was selfless. That is the kind of man we presented for federal recognition, and our governor saw it. That singular act earned His Excellency the respect and appreciation of all Ifedore indigenes, and we remain grateful.
But just as we began to raise our heads in joy, the unthinkable happened. Our hope was replaced—our voice was silenced. We heard, with disbelief and sadness, that our son’s nomination had been withdrawn and replaced by another candidate though from another local government in Ondo State.This development has shaken the very foundation of trust among our people. It has thrown us back into the pit of neglect that we were just crawling out of.
Let me be clear: this is not an attack on anyone, neither is it a political tantrum. It is a sincere cry from a people who have waited for too long to be heard. Our joy was not misplaced. Our hope was not manufactured. We believed in the process, and that is why this replacement is particularly painful.
I am using this medium to passionately appeal to our father, our leader, and our governor—His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa—to please intervene and help us correct this injustice. We know the kind of leader he is: firm, fair, and fatherly. The entire Ifedore people are looking up to him once again to stand on the side of equity and fairness. This is not just about Engr. Obe—it is about Ifedore. It is about a people whose voices have been drowned for far too long.
Our loyalty to the party is not in question. Our support for the government is visible and solid. All we are asking is that this opportunity, this moment that brought life to our people, not be stolen away. We are confident that His Excellency has the goodwill, the capacity, and the influence to make this right. Ifedore deserves to feel the presence of government—not just during elections, but in appointments and empowerment too.
I plead with the governor: don’t let this light that you lit in Ifedore be quenched. Let us not return to the shadows. Restore our son’s name. Restore our confidence. Restore our hope.
Let justice be done.
Signed:
Hon. Barr. Tope Komolàfe
Member, Ondo State House of Assembly
(Representing Ifedore Constituency)
