Controversy as President, Muhammadu Buhari has named an indigene of Abonnema local government area of Rivers State, Mrs Opunimi Akinkugbe, as an ambassadorial nominee for Ondo State.

Mrs Nimi Akinkugbe who is married to me Yinka Akinkugbe and blessed with three children is not regarded as an indigene of the state even though she is married to an Ondo man.

The nominee who attended the London School of Economics and Political Science and IESE Business School where she bagged an MBA, who is also a renowned columnist and has over 23 years experience in the banking sector having worked at Stanbic IBTC, Barclays Bank and Standard Chartered Bank where she is currently a non-executive director.

The state Chairman, Ondo Youth Coalition, Ademario Emmanuel said the appointment will not stand as he was further quoted to have said “The person that was nominated is not from Ondo State.

We are doing more research to know those behind the recommendation of that appointment and we will send a letter to the Presidency and the governor. Ondo State cannot be short-changed and manipulated by some greedy set of persons because of power.

It is insulting that we have people that can represent this state well in national affairs. Why are they not being given an appointment? Ondo State has prominent sons and daughters who are well to do and can represent Nigeria and the state anywhere in the world.

This appointment will not stand. When we have made up our mind, we will take the next step.”

Ademario Emmanuel is also backed by the President, Yoruba Afenifere Youth Organisation of Nigeria, Eric Oluwole, called on Buhari to reverse the appointment within 48 hours.

Eric Oluwole further called for the cancellation of Ondo state ambassadorial nominee within 48 hours.

He said “Someone cannot be nominated from Rivers State to represent us in Ondo state as an ambassador when there are many qualified indigenes.

I urge Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state as a lovely person to play neutral selection on this, I want to believe the nomination was a mistake.”

It is worthy of mention that Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra is the Rivers State Chief Judge and she is from Edo state. Her husband Oladejo Lamikanra is from Ondo state. Nothing connects them to Rivers except that they live in Port Harcourt.

A typical Nigerian woman no longer has a state of origin once she gets married.

Her father’s state people will say she no longer belongs to them, her husband’s state people will say she’s an outsider. Meanwhile constitutional she’s allowed to claim all.

We should pay more attention to her competence than her state of origin.