Over one hundred traditional rulers in Osun under the aegies of Osun West Obas have called on all political parties to pick their candidates from Osun West Senatorial District for the sake of fairness.
They also resolved that no royal father from Osun West Senatorial District shall mobilize his subjects for any political party that picked its candidate from other districts of the state.
This demand is coming from the royal father as residents of Osun are preparing to go into another gubernatorial election in 2026.
Addressing newsmen on Wednesday on behalf of the Osun West Obas in Iwo, headquarters of Osun West Senatorial District, Akirè of Ìkirè-Ilé, Oba Abdulazeez Olatunbosun, said as royal fathers, they hold it as a duty to watch, guide, and call to attention when things seem to begoing the wrong way.
The monarch who also stressed that in view of their position, they should be apolitical, but insisted that , that does not mean they should close their eyes to anomalies going on in the society, whether social, political, economical or cultural, “This is because when chaos replaces peace, when disorder becomes the order of the day, no palace will be spared nor any crown sacred – God forbid.”
Speaking on activities of politicians over the years, Oba Olatunbosun, lamented their unfairness to part of the state saying “the activities of our politician-subjects and stakeholders in Osun State since the inception of our democratic governance in 1999 called for concerns from all and sundry.
“The quest for political offices and allocation of public offices is, to say the least, unsatisfactory, unbalanced, and inimical to social justice and mutual trust. It baffles our imagination to think that in a state that we all call our own and the creation of which we all laboured for, a section of the state will see itself as more qualified for one office or the other.
“For clarity sake and without sounding immodest, the way Osun West Senatorial District is being marginalized in the scheme of things is becoming absurd and no longer acceptable.
“From the topmost position of governorship to the least in the ladder of appointment, Osun West has been and is being treated with disdain.Worrisome is the observation that some Federal appointments have also been reserved for Osun West, just as if there are no capable hands to handle other more important and strategic offices.
“For instance, Osun West has occupied the position of Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, for three consecutive times from 2011 to date! This has to stop. We are the people binded together by culture, vision, and aspirations. The well-being of every part of this state should be our collective agenda.”
The royal father who recalled experiences of the last 25 years Osun was curved out of Old Oyo State said, Osun West only has four years at the governorship position by the time the incumbent governor, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke finishes his tenure in 2026. Osun Central and Osun East Senatorial districts have shared the remaining years unequally.
“Osun Central has occupied the governorship position for 15 years with the administrations of our revered father, Chief Adebisi Akande (4 years); Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (7 ½years); and Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola (4 years).
“On the other hand, Osun East has taken the governorship pie for 8 years, as seen in the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
“It is only through the incumbent administration of Senator Ademola Adeleke that Osun West is having a chance to govern the state for the first time since 1999. For historical purpose, we should add that he first executive governor of Osun State, Alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, who is also from Osun West, was there for just 22 months – less than two (2) years” he said.
The Royal Father have , concluded that they have “resolved that no Royal Father from Osun West will mobilize his subjects for any gubernatorial candidate picked outside Osun West. This is not an empty decision. We mean what we say. Our people will be mobilized and sensitized towards achieving this noble goal.
“The argument that zoning is alien to democracy may not be incorrect; however in the Nigeria context, it is a measure to address the issue bordering on marginalization.
“In fact, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a beneficiary of the zoning system. Nigeria is a developing nation, and our democracy is an emerging one. With time, we shall get to an advanced stage when leadership will be more concerned with entrenching the principles of justice, equity, and fair play in the polity.
“Then, Nigerians will no longer worry where their leader(s) come(s) from.
Once again, we have nothing against any aspiring individual from another zone outside Osun West or any political party for that matter; neither do we have a preferred political party.
“Our only motives are justice, equity, peace, and development of the State where no part will feel cheated or marginalized. May Almighty God guide us aright” he said.
