As the 2019 election draws nearer, the people of Oyo town gathered this afternoon to demand for the governorship slot of Oyo State.
Convened by the Meteropolitan Development Association, which comprises leaders of thoughts, opinion moulders, party leaders, community leaders, village heads, artisans, proletariat, religious leaders, market men and women, they called on the governor of Oyo state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and all political parties in the state to consider zoning the governorship slot in the state to Oyo zone come 2019.
The association, at the event which held inside Atiba town hall, Oyo town on Thursday, also recalled that other zones like Ibadan city, Ibadan less city, Oke-Ogun one and two as well as Ogbomoso, had benefitted by either producing governor or deputy governor at a time.
A communique issued by the association and signed the chairman and acting secretary general, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and Ade Atanda, respectively, called on the political parties to consider Oyo indigenes as candidate for 2019 elections.
Ladigbolu read: ‘the leadership of various political parties in the state should see us and treat us as partners in progress in the spirit of equity, justice and fair play. Oyo is fed up with the game of being relegated to the background.
‘It is worthy of note that, in spite of the inestimable contributions of many illustrious sons and daughters of Oyo extraction to the socio-economic advancement of Oyo state since its creation on February 3, 1976, no Oyo indigene has occupied the number one seat (governor).
‘For instance, the present Oyo state has produced about 21 governors and deputy governors, in which none came from Oyo,’ he added.
They urged Ajimobi to emulate Kwara and Ogun States’ method and political understanding whereby governorship seat is rotated on senatorial basis.
He explained that: ‘we should emulate Kwara state political understanding; whereby governorship seat is being rotated on senatorial basis. The meeting called on the executive governor of Oyo state, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi, to emulate his Ogun state counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, by ceding the governorship seat to the marginalised zone in the state.
‘Our utmost belief is that, as much as other zones have capable hands to mount the saddle of leadership in the state, Oyo people also have competent hands to paddle the canoe of leadership of Oyo state to a safe haven.
‘Hence, our clarion call goes to the people of other zones to lend their support for the emergence of an Oyo indigene as the next governor of Oyo state, come 2019.’
Leaders of various groups were given time to bare their minds. Comrade Taiwo Okunlola, who spoke on behalf of the youth and students, said the time is ripe for Oyo to produce the governor.
Dignitaries present at the town hall meeting include, the Bashorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Ayoola, Iba Samu, High Chief Lamidi Oyewale, Lagunna of Oyo, High Chief Bello Odudele, Honourable Segun Taiw and representatives and leaders of all political parties in the town.
