In a resounding call for justice and equitable representation, the socio-political advocacy group, Ẹgbẹ́ Àjọṣepọ̀ Fún Ìtẹsiwájú Gbogbo Wa (Coalition for All-Round Progress), officially launched its statewide campaign for the rotation of the governorship seat in Oyo State. The launch, held on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at the House of Chiefs, Oyo State Secretariat, Ibadan, brought together opinion leaders, community leaders, politicians, and various stakeholders who echoed the group’s demand for a fair and inclusive political landscape.
The event, which commenced at 10:00 a.m. and lasted until 3:30 p.m., served as a sensitization platform to address what the group describes as the long-standing political imbalance and marginalization of several zones within the state since the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999.
In his keynote address, Engr. Dauda Olaifa Alade, the National Chairman of Ẹgbẹ́ Àjọṣepọ̀ Fún Ìtẹsiwájú Gbogbo Wa, emphasized that the state’s unity and sustainable development are contingent on a just distribution of power. “Oyo State belongs to all of us—not to one zone, not to one people,” he declared.
“For peace, justice, and sustainable development to reign, every region must be given a fair shot at the governorship seat. Our unity must be built on fairness, and our future must be guided by inclusivity.”
Alade highlighted the historical context, noting that since 1999, the governorship has been disproportionately dominated by one region, leading to what he described as systemic exclusion and underdevelopment in neglected areas. This concentration of power, he argued, has bred growing disenchantment among citizens who feel alienated from the state’s highest decision-making office. The group is advocating for a structured, transparent, and fair governorship rotation system that reflects the true diversity of Oyo State’s five geopolitical zones: Ibadan, Òkèògùn, Ìbàràpá, Ọ̀yọ́, and Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́.
The National Chairman stressed that this is not a partisan political movement but a moral one. The group is demanding our constitutional and democratic right to be seen, heard, and allowed to lead.” The campaign will involve grassroots mobilization, town hall engagements, media advocacy, and strategic consultations to raise public awareness about the dangers of political exclusion.
The National Secretary of the group, Pst. Favour Adéwoyin, reiterated this sentiment, stating, “We are not asking for charity. We are demanding our constitutional and democratic right to be seen, heard, and allowed to lead. The future of Ọ̀yọ́ State lies in shared power and shared prosperity.”
As the 2027 gubernatorial election approaches, the group called for political recalibration, insisting that power should no longer be monopolized or recycled within a single axis. “Equity is not a favour; it is a right. The governorship of Ọ̀yọ́ State must rotate—not as an act of sentiment, but as a duty of justice,” the Chairman asserted.
The group specifically pleaded for the rotation to begin with the Òkèògùn zone, which it noted is the second-largest in terms of population after Ibadan.
The event saw active participation from several key discussants who lent their voices to the cause. Mr. Oluokun Ademola, Mr. Gbede Ogun from the Adeojo Group, Mrs. Oladipupo Grace Funmilayo, and Revd Adewuyi Jacob from Egbeda Local Government were among those who spoke.
Others included the Secretary of the G22 Renewed Group, Mr. Olagbenro, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez representing Barr. Bayo Shittu, Dr. Colonel Gbenga Adegbola (a gubernatorial hopeful from Oke-Ogun ), Alhaji Alli Oyedeji (former council chairman of Kajola Local Government and gubernatorial aspirant), and Prof. Layi Egunjobi.
These discussants urged all stakeholders, regardless of their political affiliations, religious beliefs, or zones, to prioritize unity and togetherness to actualize the governorship aspiration for the Oke-Ogun Zone in 2027.
They advised the group’s advocates to be patient, strategic, and forward-looking in their pursuit of this vision.
The launch marks a significant milestone in the political discourse of Oyo State, as Ẹgbẹ́ Àjọṣepọ̀ Fún Ìtẹsiwájú Gbogbo Wa positions itself as a major voice in shaping the state’s political future. The group’s leadership—including Prof. Jacob Babayemi (National PRO), Pst. Favour Adéwoyin (National Secretary), and Engr. Dauda Olaifa Alade (National Chairman)—stands firm in its conviction that a new era of shared prosperity and inclusive governance is within reach for all the people of Oyo State.
