ODAT Accuses Wole Oke of Political Monopoly, Questions 24-Year Representation Record

 

By Abdulahi Musa 

The Oriade Development Advocacy Team (ODAT) has launched a strong criticism of the member representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Wole Oke, accusing him of monopolizing political representation and failing to deliver commensurate development after 24 years in office.

In a lengthy statement titled "Wole Oke: A Scammer in the Political Landscape of Obokun/Oriade," the group dismissed recent claims of political strength attributed to the lawmaker, particularly reports of the inauguration of over 3,000 canvassers in Obokun. According to ODAT, such figures do not reflect genuine grassroots acceptance and should not be mistaken for widespread public support.

The group argued that political relevance is measured by the trust and confidence of constituents rather than social media projections or crowd mobilization. It maintained that residents across the 22 wards of Obokun and Oriade local government areas are increasingly demanding a more inclusive political arrangement that allows other communities to produce representatives.

ODAT noted that Hon. Oke has occupied the federal legislative seat continuously since 1999, describing the tenure as unusually long by democratic standards. The group questioned why other qualified individuals from various communities across the constituency have not been given the opportunity to represent the people at the National Assembly.

According to the statement, communities such as Ibokun, Otan-Ile, Imesi-Ile, Erin-Oke, Erin-Ijesa, Ijebu-Jesa, Ikeji-Ile, Ira, Ipetu-Ijesa, Ijeda, Iloko, Erinmo, Iwaraja and others possess capable sons and daughters who can effectively serve the constituency if given the chance.

The advocacy group further argued that democratic principles of fairness, equity and inclusiveness require leadership opportunities to be shared rather than concentrated in one political bloc. It warned that continued dominance by a single individual could undermine the spirit of representation and political participation.

ODAT also challenged the perception of Oke's political influence, claiming that only a limited number of supporters followed him when he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), while some of those individuals have since returned to their former political platforms.

The group alleged growing dissatisfaction among party members and stakeholders, accusing the lawmaker of poor political management and failing to accommodate differing views within his political structure. It claimed that several loyal supporters had become disillusioned due to what it described as arrogance and exclusionary leadership.

The statement further accused Oke of attempting to maintain influence over future elective positions within the constituency, alleging that his political camp is working to secure legislative tickets for loyal associates at the expense of other aspirants.

ODAT also called for greater scrutiny of Oke's performance during his years in office, urging constituents to assess the impact of his representation on infrastructure, youth empowerment, education, employment and economic development across the federal constituency.

The group concluded by urging voters to prioritize accountability, fairness and inclusive leadership in future elections, insisting that the political future of Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency should not be tied to the ambitions of a single individual but should reflect the collective aspirations of all communities within the constituency.

As of the time of filing this report, Hon. Wole Oke had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the statement.