The clamour for power rotation in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 general elections has taken a new dimension as political stakeholders from the Oke-Ogun region have rejected what they described as the chairmanship bait and demanded that the next governor of the state should emerge from their zone.
Speaking against the backdrop of comments credited to Hon. Adebayo Olagbenro, former Commissioner and Vice-Chairman of the defunct Action Congress in Oyo State, Pastor Favour Adéwoyin, National Secretary of Ẹgbẹ́ Àjọṣepọ̀ Fún Ìtẹsiwájú Gbogbo Wa, said the continuous zoning of the party chairmanship position to Oyo North, particularly Oke-Ogun, amounted to political marginalisation.
Hon. Olagbenro, now General Secretary of the G22 Association – a political pressure group advocating for power rotation – had in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) published on The Eagles News (September 15 edition) lamented that enough is enough of the deliberate pattern of chairmanship allocation.
A Pattern of Exclusion
Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, Oyo State has played a significant role in the national political scene. However, critics argue that the distribution of party leadership positions has followed a narrow, exclusionary pattern.
Records show that Chief Michael Koleoso (Oyo North), Chief David Adesola (Oyo North), Chief Samuel Farinu (Central), Chief Akin Oke (Oyo North), and Hon. Isaac Omodewu (Oyo North) have all held sway as party chairmen, with only Alhaji Olaide Abas (Oyo South) briefly breaking the monopoly.
Stakeholders insist this pattern reflects an entrenched system of marginalisation that sidelines Oke-Ogun, Oyo, Ibarapa, and Ogbomoso in the larger political structure of the state.
The Chairmanship “Bait”
According to Pastor Adéwoyin, the zoning of the chairmanship position to Oke-Ogun is nothing more than a political tactic to deny the region access to the governorship.
“The message has been consistent: take the chairmanship and forfeit your governorship dreams,” he said. “This is not only unjust but insulting to the intelligence of Oke-Ogun people who have contributed immensely to the growth and stability of Oyo State.”
He argued further that while Ibadan has continued to dominate the governorship seat since 1999, Oke-Ogun remains relegated despite its agricultural contributions, manpower strength, and electoral support.
A Call for Equity and Justice
Adéwoyin stressed that equity and fairness demanded a shift in the state’s political equation, insisting that the governorship cannot remain the exclusive preserve of one region.
“Oke-Ogun does not need consolation prizes. Oke-Ogun, like every marginalised region, deserves the governorship. Anything less is a continuation of injustice,” he declared.
He also pointed out that the plight of Oke-Ogun mirrors that of other sidelined zones — Oyo, Ibarapa, and Ogbomoso — who have suffered from decades of political exclusion.
The 2027 Declaration
In a firm declaration, stakeholders from Oke-Ogun vowed to resist any further attempt to zone only the party chairmanship to their region, demanding instead that the governorship ticket be conceded to them in 2027.
“Our position is clear: No to perpetual chairmanship bait. No to marginalisation of Oke-Ogun and other zones. Yes to equity. Yes to justice. Yes to rotational governorship beginning with Oke-Ogun producing the next Governor of Oyo State come 2027,” Pastor Adéwoyin affirmed.
He concluded with a resounding call: “Oke-Ogun lo kan! It is our turn, our right, and our destiny. The time for justice is now.”
