Towards A Fairer Oyo State: Why Ibadan Should Play Big Brother

By Barr. Waheed Lawal

Ibadan is very large and politically sophisticated no doubt. Nobody can deny also the voting strength of Ibadan. What is being contested on moral ground and in the spirit of Yoruba adage “eni kan kì jẹ ki ilẹ fe”, “ajoje ko dùn ti eni kan ko ba ni tàbí yo” makes it unAfrican and unYorubally that Ibadan should continue to dominate Oyo State’s political landscape simply because it has 60% of the votes. This is unfair and potentially divisive.

To build a more just and equitable society, we must prioritize justice, equity, and fairness, ensuring every zone has a voice and opportunities for growth.

All we are saying is that the current monopoly of governorship by Ibadan is not in the overall best interest of Oyo State.

Now that we Stakeholders at the state and federal levels getting aware of this issue through Òkèògùn groups’ advocacy, yet some still dismiss the need for power shift.

For the sake of peace and harmonious relationships, it’s essential to recognize that prioritizing fairness, rotation of power, and unity can lead to a more equitable and just society.

Some of the benefits of Rotation of Power are as follows:

1. It is essential for preventing marginalization, promoting unity, and ensuring balanced development.
2. It can prevent resentment and division, as seen in the presidency. After all, there are Governors emerging from smaller zones even in this South West. The fact that a small town in Otuoke, Bayelsa  produced Governor and later President of Nigeria demonstrates that rotation is possible and beneficial. You can see how it doused tension in the Niger Delta.
3. It Promotes unity and development for all zones for building a prosperous and harmonious Oyo State.

We Call on all Stakeholders in
Ibadan and Oyo State in Nigeria to sit down dialogue and negotiate a new power sharing formula and zoning arrangement so as to promoting fairness, inclusivity and unity by agreeing to support a candidate from another zone in the 2027 election. This gesture would demonstrate exemplary political maturity, as seen in the North’s support for Obasanjo, Jonathan, and Tinubu.

By acknowledging these points and working together, we can create a brighter future for Oyo State, where every zone has an equal opportunity to thrive.

Barr. Waheed Lawal
Ègbé Àjosepò Fún Ìtésíwájú Gbogbo Wa

wolawal@yahoo.com

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