By Barr. AbdulWaheed Lawal
As Oyo State approaches the 2027 gubernatorial election, a transformative shift is underway. The relentless advocacy efforts have prompted top political leaders to reconsider their stance, exploring candidates from outside Ibadan to succeed Governor Makinde. This pivotal moment necessitates a new political structure and reconfiguration, ensuring inclusivity and unity among all regions.
I do not think there is anyone who will object to the need for rotational governance in the pacesetter state.
It’s trite that Oyo State’s governance has long been dominated by Ibadan, leaving other regions feeling marginalized and underdeveloped.
For goodness sake, the Okeogun, Ogbomoso, Oyo, and Ibarapa regions also possess exceptional leaders who are capable of governing the state effectively. To bridge this gap, it’s crucial to adopt a more inclusive approach, allowing other zones to take the reins, starting from 2027.
For the doubting thomases, there are key benefits of power shift or rotational arrangement. They are as follows:
1. Power shift in 2027 will bridge the gap between regions and promote a sense of belonging among all citizens.
2. It will promote economic growth by tap into unique regional strengths and resources to drive economic development.
3. It will ensure equal
attention and investment in social infrastructure across all parts of Oyo State.
This call For restructuring and recaliberating of power sharing formula in Oyo State is not novel. Many States in Nigeria , even in the South West here have been practising rotational governorship. As a matter of fact , which is verifiable, indigines of many States Capital have long been ceeding governorship to other parts and deliberately voting non indigines of the Capital cities to govern their States, the only exception being Oyo State where by providence the Late Otunba Adebayo Alao Akala governed for a term.
The 1999 presidential election also serves as a shining example of how deliberate power shifting can heal wounds and promote national unity. The North’s decision to favor the South-West in presidential tickets alleviated tensions and paved the way for progress. Similarly, Ibadans can demonstrate maturity by allowing other regions to occupy the Agodi government house in 2027.
My advice and recommendations to leaders and elders of Oyo State is to come together to negotiate concessions and agree on a rotational governance framework. This will ensure fairness, prevent growing resentment, and create a brighter future for Oyo State.
My specific advice to other zones is to first work for this idea to sail through first and thereafter, they can dialogue and negotiate among themselves who takes the first shot. Unfortunately, some people have not come to terms with this reality. We can not achieve anything by saying *awa lo kan* , *emi lo kan* without first getting Ibadans to agree that power should shift.
I urge all to embrace rotational governance in Oyo State starting from 2027 as this will propel us towards economic prosperity and enhance our internal security.
Governor Makinde’s potential endorsement of this formula to select his successor in 2027 will make him a great statesman and will prove his commitment to good governance.
Let Governor Makinde establish a rotational governance framework committee and encourage submissions of memoranda and public hearing on this very important subject matter. That will probably be the first of its kind in Oyo State.
Together, we can build a brighter future for our beloved state.
AbdulWaheed Olatunde Lawal, a Lawyer and Political Activist from Saki, Oke-Ogun, Oyo State._
