By Omowumi Omotosho
The Offa Youth Council (OYC) has called for the immediate resignation or a shift in leadership approach within the Offa Descendants Union (ODU), under the leadership of Alhaji Salako.
In a letter addressed to His Royal Majesty, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II, the Olofa of Offa, the council expressed deep concern over the decline in the union’s integrity and influence, attributing it to political partisanship and poor decision-making by the current leadership.
The OYC lamented that the ODU, once a vibrant and unifying platform for all sons and daughters of Offa, has lost its prestige under Alhaji Salako’s leadership.
“The union has gradually shifted away from its primary objectives of fostering unity and development within Offa,” the letter stated. Instead, it accused the leadership of getting entangled in political interests, which has caused division and disillusionment among stakeholders.
The youth council laid out several accusations against Alhaji Salako and his executive council, stating: “Undue Political Influence and Leadership Manipulation: Alhaji Salako’s leadership has consistently undermined democratic principles by removing elected members of the executive council who do not align with his personal political interests.
” Notably, the elected secretary was unilaterally removed, replaced by individuals who are loyal to the president’s myopic agenda. This action has not only created division but also undermined the integrity of the union.
“Validation of Electoral Fraud: The ODU, under Alh. Salako’s leadership, gave undue validation to the recent electoral fraud orchestrated by the Kwara State Government during the just-concluded local government election.
“Instead of standing up for the truth and protecting the interest of Offa and her people, the union turned a blind eye to irregularities that could potentially throw the community into crisis. Such actions risk the peace and harmony of our land considering the fact that the major victim being the candidate of the Major opposition party is the National Secretary of Offa Youth Council OYC.
“Partisanship in the Local Government Election:
Throughout the election period, the union openly aligned itself with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates, a move that grossly contradicts the nonpartisan nature of the ODU.
“The overt partisanship displayed by Alhaji Salako’s executive not only alienated members of the union who hold different political beliefs but also compromised the union’s role as an impartial body for all Offa indigenes.
“Embarrassment and Humiliation of the Aare Bobajiro of Offa Land: In a most disgraceful display of power abuse, the National PRO of the union, under the directive of Alhaji Salako, humiliated and embarrassed the National President of Offa Youth Council, who also holds the esteemed title of Aare Bobajiro of Offa Land.
“He was unjustly removed from the ODU platform just like he did removed the National Vice president 1 of Offa Youth Council for merely voicing concerns over the oppressive and selective removal of youths from the platform, all due to their differing political views. This act of silencing opposing voices is highly unbecoming of a respected union and goes against the democratic principles upon which ODU was founded,” the group stated.
“The Offa Youth Council stressed that the current leadership’s actions are not in the best interest of Offa or its people. “The union, which should be an avenue for collective progress and harmony, has become an instrument for political manipulation and division,” the group stated, urging His Royal Majesty to intervene.
In their appeal, the council urged Alhaji Salako and his executive council to voluntarily resign, or at the very least, adopt a more neutral and inclusive approach to leadership. “It is time for Alhaji Salako and his executive council to restore the union’s dignity and neutrality in community matters,” the group affirmed.
The council expressed confidence in the Olofa’s wisdom to guide the ODU back to its foundational principles of unity and progress.
