The indigenes said the community which habours the largest deposit of bitumen in Africa and the second largest deposit of bitumen in the world, lacked good roads, health facilities, educational structure, and a mobile communication network.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Regent and Acting Oloja Agbabu, High Chief Lisa, Oluwatoyin Abiodun, on Sunday, on behalf of the indigenes of the town.
In the statement, the regent also appealed to the state government to elevate the traditional rulership of the town to an ‘Oba’, like other communities in the local government.
According to the statement, the community had been facing a series of communal crises on whom to be the supreme head of the community leading to many litigations pending in court, hence the need for the government to intervene in the kingship matters of the community so that it would have an oba.
As a result of the alleged neglect, the statement said many companies sited in the community had gone moribund, adding that no development was taking place in the bitumen town.
The statement read in part, “Agbabu is geographically located in the South Western part of Nigeria around the present Ondo South Senatorial District. Agbabu land habours the largest deposit of bitumen in Africa and the second largest deposit of bitumen in the world and it has been in existence dating back to 1450 AD far before the advent of the colonial era.
“We the people of Agbabu Community are now using this medium to appeal to the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu to look into the plight of Agbabu people and grant us an autonomous kingdom having to suffer for more than 100 years and long overdue for the position of oba.
“Agbabu today lacks good roads, health facilities, educational structure, and service network. All companies and assets inherited from the British colonial master are moribund and dilapidated, and faced out due to total and absolute neglect.”
