Oyo State, with a capital city in Ibadan located in the South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria, Oyo State, was one of the three states carved out of the former Western State of Nigeria in 1976.
Oyo State consists of 33 local governments and 29 local council development areas.
Local Government Areas are: Afijio, Akinyele, Atiba, Atisbo, Egbeda, Ibadan North, Ibadan North-East, Ibadan North-West, Ibadan South-East, Ibadan South West, Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North, Ido, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Lagelu, Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Ogo-Oluwa, Olorunsogo,Oluyole, Ona-Ara, Oorelope, Oriire, Oyo East, Oyo West, Saki East, Saki West and Surulere. The Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) are: Aare Latosa, Afijio West, Ajorosun, Akinyele East, Akinyele South, Akinyele West, Akorede, Araromi, Atisbo South, Ibadan East, Ibadan South East, Ibadan West, Ibarapa North-East, Ibarapa North-West, Ifeloju, Iganna, Inukan, Irepodun, Iseyin South, Iwa, Lagelu North, Ogbomoso Central, Ogbomoso South-West, Ogo-oluwa West, Oke’badan, Omi Apata, Surulere North, Surulere South, Wewe.
In less than three years, the second term administration of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State will be winding up. As the agitations and political lobying reaches top gear, the state must begin to reflect on the succession plan based on the principles of fairness, justice, and equity.
Over the years, the aspiration of the Oyo Federal Constituency in Oyo Central Senatorial District to occupy the exalted position has always been met with opposition, based on only God knows reasons.
Presently, the again at the front burner of discourse, especially now that everybody is looking forward to 2027 for a change of guard. More than ever before, the agitation for power shift has assumed a louder resonance among the power elite who feel concerned about the perceived marginalization of that particular section of the state in the scheme of things.
Therefore, the time is now auspicious to look into the complaint and apply the appropriate remedy. All that is required to right the wrong of the past is the fair, just and equitable sharing of power among different interest groups in the state in consonance with Section 14 (3) of the 1999 constitution which clearly states the need for zoning and power rotation to ensure national cohesion.
The objective of the framers of the Constitution in advocating power sharing is to ensure that there is no dominance of a particular ethnic group or tribe over the other.
At the national and sub-national levels, the power rotation convention is a necessary lubricant that oils the principles of equity,fairness, and justice.
A look at the occupier of the office of the state governor since October, 1983 till now shed a clear light on the agitation by the marginalised Oyo Federal Constituency:
Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo Executive Governor, October 1983 – 31 December 1983, Ibadan South East/North East
Lt. Col. Oladayo Popoola from 4th January 1984 – September, 1985 (Military), Ogbomoso North
Chief Kolapo Olawuyi Ishola Governor from 2nd January 1992 to 17th November 1993, Akinyele/Lagelu
Dr. Lam Adesina from 29th of May 1999 to 28th of May 2003, Ibadan South East/North East
Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja from 29th May 2003 to 28th May 2007, Ibadan North East/South
Christopher Alao-Akala Governor (de facto) from 12th January 2006 to 7th December 2006, Ogbomoso North
Christopher Alao-Akala from 29th May 2007 to 29th May, 2011, Ogbomoso North
Abiola Ajimobi, from 29th May 2011 to 29th May 2019, Ibadan Southwest
Seyi Makinde from 29th May 2019 till date, Ibadan North
To this extent, it is lawful and consistent with the Constitution to listen to the agitation of the Oyo Federal Constituency people to produce the next governor after the tenure of Governor Makinde in 2027.
Of course, there has always been a debate between the pro and anti-power rotation forces as to whether or not the idea of zoning aligns with democratic norms.
Some are often too quick to arrogate the monopoly of the best candidates to a particular section of the state. That is a fallacy of over-generalization, which can only be found useful for the purposes of academic exercise.
When put into a thorough debate, it will fall flat in the face of a superior argument. The truth is that there is no section of the state where we can not find ‘the best person’ with the requisite competence, capacity, and character to be the governor. We must, therefore, purge ourselves of such an unfounded ethnocentric prejudice and begin to give serious consideration to the rightful agitation of the people of other zones to produce the next governor.
In terms of human endowment, intellectual refinement, industry, and entrepreneurial spirit, Oyo people are not pushovers. Neither have they ever been found to be content with playing second fiddle because they are second to none. They have a galaxy of stars that have excelled in all fields of human endeavours.
Acceding to their renewed demand for the governorship slot in the coming dispensation will not only assuage them of the perceived feeling of marginalization but also foster unity and political stability among the stakeholders in the state.
This piece is written by Akinola Emmanuel from Igboora
