The 2027 political cycle is fast-approaching, with individuals eyeing different positions already beginning a soft jostle for the seats of their choices.
Interestingly, every serious ambition that ends up in electoral victory begins with that soft jostle and from little talks in small corners. These talks, often beginning from small groups, go on to solidify into strong narratives that decide the eventual winners of polls and contests where the majority of people would be the deciders.
In Oyo State, the small talks have begun regarding who becomes the next governor of the state after the eight eventful years of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde. These talks have, however, centred on the same perspective of domination, injustice and unfairness that have characterised the politics of Oyo State for decades. Yes, the small talks have begun from Ibadan, the state capital, about which Ibadan indigene is best suited to govern the state next.
However, the talks at this point should rather be about which zone of the state had been overlooked for too long and should be given the opportunity to present the next governor.
For a state that will celebrate 50 in 2026, it has become worrisome that Oke-Ogun, which has the second largest number of local government areas, has never been given the opportunity of presenting the governor of Oyo State. Coming closely after Ibadan with 11 local governments, Oke Ogun boasts of 10 local governments and a population that is second only to Ibadan, despite the latter being the state capital and home to millions of people from Oke Ogun, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Ibarapa and other states of the federation.
Despite this demographical strength, a vast land and comparative advantages in agriculture, solid mineral development and tourism, however, Oke Ogun zone has been made to permanently play second fiddle, producing deputy governors in succession. By the time Governor Makinde completes his term in 2027, Ibadan would have spent a total of about 27 years as governor of the state out of the 35 years of civil rule in the state since creation in 1976.
It is, therefore, expected that the small talks and, indeed, the real narrative surrounding 2027 governorship race in Oyo State should begin to centre on Oke Ogun zone, with Ogbomoso zone having produced Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, who spent four years in office between 2007 and 2011.
Naturally, one expects that this discourse on fairness and equity in Oyo State would have gained traction ahead of now, with the state boasting of a high number of respected Nigerians, notable royal fathers and elder statesmen that can drive discussions on power rotation. That expectation had also been fuelled by the age-long identity that Oyo State is a pacesetter in good things, with the Yoruba saying ‘a ji se bi Oyo la’ri, Oyo kii se bi enikan…’ popular across the country.
With different states of federation already besting Oyo to engender equality, justice and fairness in how they are governed, by creating a sort of power rotation system that does not leave any zone behind, it is expected that the surviving fathers of Oyo State would be able to come together at this period to navigate the state towards the path of equity and fairness in terms of who becomes the next governor of the state.
Neighbouring states like Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos have all conquered the injustice demon in power rotation. So have distant states like Akwa Ibom, Kaduna, Rivers and others. Nigeria has also demonstrated its resolve for justice and fairness in power rotation with the 1999 presidential election having only Yoruba candidates as well as the emergence of Senator Bola Tinubu as president. Can Oyo State also face this injustice dragon and overcome it by allowing power to rotate to Oke Ogun in 2027? This is the expectation.
But the burden of the expectation falls mostly on the shoulders of elders and influential people in Ibadan, the state capital, particularly the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), the traditional institution and the political figures. Can they rise above selfish sentiments by allowing politicians of Oke Ogun extraction the opportunity to govern Oyo State for the first time? One also expects the well-meaning indigenes of Oke Ogun, traditional rulers and all Oke Ogun indigenes across all party lines to rise with purpose and begin the real work ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
While conceding to the popular saying in politics that power is not served on a platter, this is an appeal to reason and the sense of justice of residents of Oyo State. What is fair is fair, it is time to allow an Oke Ogun man or woman become governor of Oyo State.
Oyedunni writes from Ogbooro, Saki East Local Government.
