The Silent Struggle of Akoko-Edo: “A People Still Waiting to Be Seen and Heard”

The Silent Struggle of Akoko-Edo: “A People Still Waiting to Be Seen and Heard”

PART ONE

BY Dr. Obamesoh Afede Omokudu

Since Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999, the people of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area in Edo State have carried a lingering sense of exclusion that has steadily hardened into a widely shared grievance. Situated in Edo North Senatorial District and occupying one of the largest landmasses in the state, Akoko-Edo is rich in human potential, cultural heritage, and natural resources. Yet, more than two decades after democracy was restored, many of its communities remain trapped in a cycle of neglect that contrasts sharply with the promises of inclusion, equity, and development that democracy was meant to deliver.

For the people of Akoko-Edo, marginalization has not been defined by a single dramatic event, but by a long accumulation of missed opportunities and unequal outcomes. Politically, the area has remained on the fringes of power. Since 1999, Akoko-Edo has struggled to gain meaningful access to the highest decision-making levels in Edo State. While other parts of Edo North have, at various times, produced governors, deputy governors, and dominant political figures, Akoko-Edo has largely been relegated to the role of electoral support base rather than a zone considered capable of leading. This persistent absence from the center of power has reinforced a feeling that the voices and aspirations of its people carry less weight in the political calculations of both major parties and successive administrations.

The consequences of this political sidelining are evident in the area’s developmental trajectory. Akoko-Edo is endowed with significant solid mineral resources, including limestone and marble, resources that in many parts of the world have served as anchors for industrial growth and local prosperity. In Akoko-Edo, however, these endowments have translated into little more than unfulfilled promise. There has been no sustained, state-driven effort to establish industries that could create jobs, build skills, and retain young people. Where extraction has occurred, the benefits have often flowed outward, leaving host communities with environmental burdens but few lasting economic gains.

Infrastructure tells a similarly troubling story. For years, poor road networks have isolated many Akoko-Edo communities, making movement difficult and commerce costly. Farmers struggle to move produce to markets, patients face long and dangerous journeys to access quality healthcare, and businesses are discouraged by high transportation costs and unreliable connectivity. Basic social amenities—steady electricity, clean water, modern healthcare facilities, and well-resourced schools—remain inadequate in many areas, deepening the gap between Akoko-Edo and more favored parts of the state.

This neglect has taken a human toll. Youth unemployment remains high, driving a steady migration of young men and women to urban centers such as Benin City, Lagos, and Abuja. This outward flow drains Akoko-Edo of its most energetic and innovative population, weakening local economies and eroding community structures. Those who remain often face limited opportunities and a growing sense of abandonment, conditions that undermine faith in democratic governance itself.

Compounding these challenges is Akoko-Edo’s precarious security situation. Bordering Kogi and Ondo States, the area has been increasingly exposed to insecurity, including kidnapping, banditry, and farmer–herder conflicts. Residents frequently lament that security responses are reactive and insufficient, despite repeated warnings and appeals. The perception that Akoko-Edo is left to fend for itself in the face of these threats has intensified feelings of marginalization and vulnerability.

To be clear, the story of Akoko-Edo since 1999 is not one of total absence of government presence. There have been projects and interventions over the years. However, for many residents, these efforts appear sporadic and disproportionately small when measured against the size of the local government area, its strategic importance, and its contributions to the state. What persists is the belief that Akoko-Edo has not been treated as an equal stakeholder in Edo State’s democratic journey.

Ultimately, the marginalization of Akoko-Edo is as much about perception as it is about policy, but perceptions matter deeply in a democracy. When an entire people feel unseen and unheard for decades, the social contract is weakened. Addressing this long-standing grievance requires more than rhetoric. It demands deliberate political inclusion, fairer distribution of resources, sustained infrastructure investment, and a conscious effort to bring Akoko-Edo from the margins into the mainstream of Edo State’s development. Only then can the promise of democracy ring true for a people who have waited patiently since 1999 to feel that they truly belong.

Watch Out For Part Two..