A wave of political unrest is building in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State as credible reports indicate that a recall process has commenced against the Honourable Member representing the constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Deji Oparinde.
At the center of the controversy are serious allegations concerning Hon. Oparinde’s alleged interference in traditional governance structures. Community leaders accuse the lawmaker of attempting to secure a permanent seat for his father, the Akibio of Ilora, on the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs—an action they claim undermines Afijio’s long-established rotational leadership agreement among its three principal towns: Ilora, Awe, and Fiditi.
According to local tradition, the chairmanship of the traditional council rotates among these communities in recognition of the equal status accorded to all monarchs in Afijio. Any attempt to alter this balance is viewed as a threat to the unity and governance principles of the local government area.
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“This is not a personal monarchy. Afijio’s structure is based on fairness and rotation. No one should hijack it to favor a particular lineage,” a respected community elder stated.
In addition to these concerns, Hon. Oparinde is facing accusations of underperformance and lack of constituency engagement. Residents allege that the lawmaker has not initiated or completed any notable development projects and has instead claimed credit for projects facilitated by the Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
“There are LCDA-led road projects that he is now parading as his own efforts. It’s a false narrative. The people are tired of the misrepresentation,” one traditional chief said.
Hon. Oparinde is said to have defended his father’s position by citing an appointment by Governor Seyi Makinde. However, many within the constituency argue that such political backing cannot override local customs and agreements.
Stakeholders confirm that the process to recall Hon. Oparinde has begun in earnest. Signatures are reportedly being gathered, and a formal petition may be submitted in the coming weeks unless the lawmaker takes concrete steps to address the concerns raised.
As tensions rise, the situation in Afijio continues to attract attention from political observers, traditional institutions, and civil society actors, all of whom are closely monitoring what could become a major test of democratic accountability and local governance integrity in Oyo State.
