Legal luminary, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) has reiterated that zoning of governorship position in Oyo State is unconstitutional.
Akintola was criticised when he first opined anybody can be governor on the basis of merit and not on zoning.
According to the former deputy speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, he said he still holds on to his position, explaining that ‘there is a wide divide between morality and law. Democracy is anchored on the rule of law and not on sentiment. Apart from sentiment, I have asked this question before and no one has been able to give me an answer: who is an Ibadan man? Who is an Oyo man? Who is an Ogbomoso man? Let us face it, the Oyos are one, from Ogun to Kwara states. Those who are saying otherwise are political, social and cultural illiterates. You may have chains of university degrees without being articulate.
‘The first case handled by Awolowo in his lifetime was between Laoye and Olubadan-in-Council, 1947. Laoye was the Timi of Ede, who wanted to become a Mogaji at Idikan in Ibadan. He contested against the prominent Adebisi Idikan and lost. He wanted to go back to his position in Ede but the council said no. It was challenged in court. The father of the present Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, came from Igbeti.
‘The family of the former governor of the state, the late Kolapo Isola, came from Ede in today’s Osun State. I am originally from the sixth generation of Ibikunle family from Ogbomoso. A former commissioner in this state, who is a respected journalist, Bolaji Kareem, is from Isale Osi in Ibadan but he claims Iseyin today. Half of Iwo people have their family compound in Ibadan. Six former Olubadan were from Ogbomoso. Olubadan Akinbiyi was from Awe, Are Latosa was from Ilora. Oyo people under Alaafin are one.
‘The late MKO Abiola’s father was from Ojoo in Ibadan. He was the Balogun of Ojoo in Abeokuta. When he had money, Abiola came back to his family compound in Ibadan and built Abiola Bookshop there. He was later made Basorun of Ibadan. The Adedibus are cousins to the Alaafin. Ikire people in Osun State have their family compound in Ibadan. So, (people) from Otta in Ogun State to Offa in Kwara State are all one under Alaafin. The next in line to the stool of Olubadan, Lekan Balogun, is the grandson of Alli Iwo, a former Olubadan. Shall we say that today, he is no longer an Ibadan man? We are talking of Oyo State being ruled by Oyo people.’
Akintola revealed that he had said this in the past and not because of his ambition, adding that ‘if you go through my writings and lectures, I have been saying this before now. People should come up with other stories. We should stop playing the card of ethnicity, religion or clans. I want to be the Oyo State governor and not the chairman of the Ido Local Government Area where my village is. Why so much noise about Ibadan over Oyo State politics? We should demonstrate competency in our areas of callings and feel free to contest. Some people use religion and ethnic sentiments to contest election because they are not competent.’
Speaking on if he had received blessings from Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Akintola said the latter ‘appreciates everyone and has made no one his favourite. To my knowledge, he has not adopted any candidate. I may be wrong, however. He has provided an enabling environment for decent people to contest. I don’t enjoy special attention from him. I don’t know of others.’
