By OLATUNDE AJAYI

Indigenes of Oke-Ogun in Oyo State have insisted that the zone will not accept deputy governor position or any consolation slot from any political party except governorship seat in the 2027 elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Oke-Ogun indigenes, spoke under the aegis of “Egbe Ajosepo fun Itesiwaju Gbogbo Wa”, a socio-cultural group, in a statement issued by its National Chairman, Dauda Olaifa, on Friday.

According to Olaifa, the demands is a collective agreement among the people of Oke-Ogun zone.

“We want all political parties in the state to take this decision as our clear, firm and historic declaration of our collective resolve.

“We reject every political consolation prize and demand nothing less than the Oyo governorship seat come 2027.

“Oyo State is constitutionally and politically structured into five major zones: Ibadan (11 local government areas), Oke-Ogun (10), Ògbómoṣọ́ (5), Òyọ́ (4) and Ìbàràpá (3).

“These zones are not mere geographical labels; they are legitimate stakeholders in the destiny, leadership and governance of the state.

“A stakeholder, by definition, is any group or region with a rightful interest and constitutionally protected role in decision-making, access to authority and participation in governance.

“Therefore, no zone in Oyo State should be excluded, marginalised or perpetually denied access to the highest seat of leadership,” he said.

Olaifa cited Sections 14(3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which upholds fairness, inclusivity, equity and the federal character principle.

He said that every citizen and region must enjoy equal opportunity to occupy any political office.

Olaifa, however, noted that history had revealed a deeply troubling imbalance in how each zone in the state would produce candidate for the highest political seat in the state.

“Since 1979, Ibadan has overwhelmingly dominated the governorship of Oyo state. Out of the last 47 years, Ibadan has held power for approximately 39 years.

“With the exception of Chief Bola Ige and Chief Christopher Alao-Akala, the overwhelming majority of governors have emerged from Ibadan.

“Meanwhile, Okeogun has repeatedly been relegated to subordinate roles — producing deputy governors and occasionally party chairmen positions that have not translated into true political inclusion or equity.

“The same pattern of political sidelining has affected other zones such as Ibarapa, Oyo and Ogbomoso.

“Across the state today, there is a rising, coordinated and unstoppable demand for justice: no region must remain permanently excluded from the governorship seat in a state that belongs to all,” he said.

Olaifa further stated that the current agitation should not be seen as war against Ibadan or fierce battle among the zones in the state, adding that Ibadan should not be seen as enemy of other zones.

He alleged that the real obstacle has always been a small circle of ‘self-serving political elites’ scattered across all zones, the individuals who had converted leadership into business, governance into personal profit and public service into private enterprise.

“These political dealers, not leaders, have continued to mortgage the future of entire regions for selfish compromise, recycling Oke-Ogun into deputy positions and party offices as though the governorship is the birthright of only one zone.

“We say enough is enough, from December 2024 until today, and moving forward with unwavering determination, the Oke-Ogun people have spoken with one voice.

“All we are saying is: no to party positions or deputy governor, but stand firmly on its demand for governorship seat.

“This is not a plea for favour. It is a demand for justice. It is not ambition. It is equity. Oke-Ogun is not begging. We are only claiming our rightful place as a full stakeholder in the leadership of Oyo State.

“Every zone deserves the opportunity to produce the governor, because Oyo State is our collective heritage — not the inheritance of any single region,” he said. (NAN)

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