By Adesola Yaqub
We are in an interesting time in our beloved pacesetter state. Things are happening so fast. The governor has faught so well and won all his battles except the ones created by self against self.
Two important landmarks played out as we lay our respected leader and statesman, Chief Michael Koleoso to rest and gave him our last respect. May his gentle soul rest in peace. (Amen)
The first was the battle of HE governor Seyi Makinde against self, considering the circumstances and venue of his vituperation against the political reality in the peaceful, ancient town, that made a clear statement by the ballots, that their choice and wishes are to be respected if democracy truly means what we agree it is. His Excellency ignited the war on himself and the fire is still raging.
The second event of interest that the funeral left with us, was a fundamental and timely clarion call by a voice of courage, equity and balance. The call by Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to late governor Lam Adesina and Head of Media and Publicity for Tinubu/Folarin Campaign organization at the 2023 general election. In his call, he challenged political stakeholders in Oke-Ogun region, as a mark of honour and enduring legacy to the struggles of Chief Koleoso on the emancipation of his people and the region, to unite and present a credible, capable Oke-Ogun candidate for governorship come 2027 and seek alliance and understanding of other stakeholders from other regions of the state. The sincerity and timing of the call was exciting, considering the fact that the call to action, is from a respected patriot outside of Oke-Ogun and it has galvanized robust conversations on the subject of an Oke-Ogun governor come 2027.
The political reality today in the state has not been nice to the Oke-Ogun people, with virtually zero presence of government, lack of development, insecurity and poverty in the region, there’s no better time for such a call than now and we call on all our leaders in all power clusters and corridors to rise and let us get this done. It is by so doing, that the beauty of our democracy, in fairness and equity will glow.
While chewing this like a cuban cigar, the gladiators of the New Oyo State raised their heads at the NASS via a bill sponsored by the eye of Alaafin at the National Assembly, Hon. Akeem Adeyemi (Skimeh) who demanded a split of the state into New Oyo and Ibadan States respectively and then require the sharing of the 33 Local Governments as may be so deem appropriate. There are two noted silences on this melodrama at the National Assembly, a loud silence from Ibadan because the Abuja rythm comes with melody and a dead silence from Oke-Ogun because we are the baby-chicken beaten by the rains. We do not have representatives at the Federal Executive Council. We do not have a voice in the Senate and our representatives in the House of Representatives have outsourced their duties on this state creation agitation to another person from the Gateway state. Are we not a wonderful people?
While the permutation for the 2027 guber race is gathering momentum, Oke-Ogun needs to be firm, strategic and deliberate. We need to stand firmly and let our voice be heard. We need to urgently reach out to other regions to seek brotherly understanding and alliance. The governor has set several parameters to define his successor, including age but the market dance that he’s staging in Oke-Ogun has just begun as there’s still more to come. The garment of honour that was conceded to him for cover by Okeogun, had since been destroyed and now there’s heavy cloud in the sky.
Oke-Ogun is blessed with numerous competent, capable and intelligent sons and daughters whose profiles fit appropriately to occupy the Agodi Government Office in Ibadan come 2027 but to make the job easy, we can unite and rally round the one individual with deep understanding of the issues of governance in our dear state, who will not compromise on integrity, commitment and the collective interest and the development of our people.
Without mincing words, for the transformation that we desire, we can place premium on our known Omoluabi and his experience and capacity will move us to a place of glory.
May Oyo Succeed !!
Adesola Yaqub (TÁSOÓLÒ) is an alum of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG) and can be reached via sholayaq@gmail.com
