A group of Ibadan indigenes, the Ibadan Equity Forum (IEF), has expressed support for power shift to Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, ahead of the 2019 governorship election.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Sola Adio, the forum said its decision was borne out of the need to promote equity, fairness and justice among the various communities in the state.
Since the creation of Oyo State in 1976, no indigene of Oke-Ogun has been elected governor.
Oke-Ogun has 10 local government areas; it is located in the northern part of the state.
Its land mass covers about 60 per cent of the total land mass of the state, but the area has about 20 per cent of the state’s population.
IEF urged indigenes of the area to present a credible candidate who can offer excellent leadership in office.
It advised Ibadan and other indigenes to support any candidate Oke-Ogun may present ahead of next year’s governorship election.
The statement reads: “Following our emergency meeting last Thursday at the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan at Oja’ba, we resolved that we are solidly behind the idea of a candidate from Oke-Ogun in the 2019 governorship election. For the purpose of fairness, equity and justice, we want the next governor to come from the region. We implore all Ibadan indigenes – home and abroad – to support the decision.”
