- Safiu Kehinde
Former Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, Debo Adesina, has called on the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to consider the Oke-Ogun axis of Oyo State in its consensus plan for the 2027 election in the state.
Adesina said the age-long injustice against the people of Oke-Ogun must inform the choice of the party’s governorship candidate in the 2027 election.
The former envoy, who is one of the leaders of the Ireakari Group, noted that Oke Ogun, formed at least 31% of the voting population of Oyo State coupled with having about 60% of the landmass of the state.
Adesina held that the axis deserves more reasonable consideration in the choice of who the flagbearer of the party is for the next governorship election.
He warned that any consensus arrangement, which creates impressions of exclusiveness, injustice, and lack of regards for the people of Oke-Ogun, has the capacity to hurt the party in the general elections.
“As loyal party people, as a progressive-minded populace, the people of Oke-Ogun cannot be against the party, especially with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the helm.
“However, after many decades of clear injustice and lopsidedness, it is only fair that the entire political establishment at all levels ponder how a people contributing about 31% of total voting population can continue to be sidelined persistently and endlessly,” Adesina said
The former envoy, who is also a former Editor-in-Chief and Chief Operating Officer of The Guardian newspapers, said there are more than enough qualified and capable personalities in the APC from Oke-Ogun who can be considered as a consensus candidate for the party if, for once, according to him, the party wants to ensure justice and fairplay
Adesina concluded: “I, on behalf of our people, appeal to the leadership of the party to look at this issue dispassionately and ensure that the people are not sidelined unjustly.”
Adesina, who is also one of the leaders of the Justice Forum in Oyo State is the founder of Omi Aanu Foundation.