OSUN GUBER RACE: Iwo Indigenes Larment Marginalization, Warn APC,PDP, Others

By Wale Abideen/As the next gubernatorial election in Osun State draws near, there are calls by stakeholders in Iwo, Ayedire and Ola-Oluwa Local Governments area of Osun State that they have been being marginalized in the scheme of who gets what in the state. Virtually all wards, local governments and political movements in Iwo land are clamoring for an Iwo indigene as a successor to incumbent Governor Aregbesola. SECURITY MONITOR findings reveals that over 15 Iwo Indigenes were aspiring to be the next governor in various political parties.

The traditional ruler of Iwo land, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, recently tasked the political actors from the Iwo Federal Constituency on the need to pursue their political aspirations with the needed commitment stressing that opportunities do not come on a platter of gold. Oba Adewale Akanbi, reiterated his commitment to the ‘Iwolokan’ agenda, stating that it is not open to compromise.

Oluwo warns leadership of all political parties not to make the mistake of not fielding someone among his subjects as the candidate. The monarch added that people of Iwoland will only vote for the party that gives the ticket to an indigene of Iwo regardless of the platform.

Recently, a socio political group, Iwo Action Council, IAC, wrote an appeal letter to the major existing political parties in Osun State. The group justifies their quest for a candidate from Iwo extraction as the possible candidate to beat in the fourth coming election which has already been slated for September, 2018. Below is the details of the letter by Iwo Action Council reiterating their decision not to support any party that fail to field an Iwo indigene as their gubernatorial candidate:

SPECIAL APPEAL FOR ZONING OF GUBERNATORIAL TICKET OF YOUR PARTY TO IWOLAND

From the community people of Iwoland, a liberal, peaceful, democracy-embracing and politically conscious community under the umbrella of Iwo Action Council, we the under signed, convey to you a message of appeal to your political party to willingly and gladly cede the gubernatorial ticket to our community in the forth coming Gubernatorial Election in September 2018 in Osun State.

This appeal and its eventual consideration is very necessary for the sake of fairness, equity and justice. One of the good things that we observed in your party is that its leadership detests injustice and unfair treatment. It is on this note that we built our hope that your party shall consider this appeal.

Sir, it shall gladden our heart to kindly peruse the table below which shows the high level of marginalization on the filling of elective posts starting from 1979 to this present political period.

Federal constituency – Governor – Deputy Governor – State House of Assembly – National Assembly – Principal Posts Ministerial

IWO
(Iwo, Ayedire & Ola-Oluwa) – – – –

Ede
Ede North, Ejigbo, Egbedore and Ede South Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke – Hon. Bello Adejare Speaker – Remi Babalola

Ila
Ila, Ifedayo & Boluwatife Chief Bisi Akande Senator Adeyeye (Chief Whip)

Osogbo
Osogbo, Olorunda, Irepodun & Orolu
________ Mrs. Titi Laoye Tomori, Deputy Governor and Hon. Lasun Yusuf (Deputy Speaker, House of Rep.)

Ikirun

Ikirirun, Ifelodun, Boripe & Odo-otun

Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Former Osun State Governor, Chief S.M Afolabi former Minister and Hon. Wale Afolabi
Speaker –

Irewole Zone
Irewole, Ayedade & Isokan
Hon. Patricia Foluke Etteh
Speaker House of Representatives Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi
Alh. Jelili Adesiyan
Obokun / Oriade Chief Bola Ige Erelu Olusola Obada – Erelu Olusola Obada

Ilesa
Ilesa west, Ilesa north, Afakumosa west & Afakumosa east Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Chief Adesuyi Haastrup – Chief Ebenezer Babatope
Prof. Isaac Adewole
Ile-Ife
Ife North, Ife south, Ife East & Ife west Sir Adesoji Aderemi Senator Iyiola Omisore Prince Sooko Adewoyin – Femi Fanikayode
Dr. Wale Oladipo

Having gone through the table, we believe that you will feel concerned on this gross marginalization in spite of Iwoland’s huge contribution and investment in the promotion of democracy in this country and its rich political base which made it to have always been pronounced as the second home by most of politicians who are not indigenes of Iwo.

We wish to confidently inform you that there are eminently qualified and competent Iwoland indigenes, who are active members of your party that can fly the flag of your political party in the forthcoming gubernatorial.

While anticipating your positive response to this appeal, we want to inform you that our community and its people remain resolute in continually giving an unflinching support to your party in achieving its objective of becoming victorious in this coming and many other elections coming ahead in Osun State in particular, and Nigeria in general.

Thanks, accept the assurance of our warmest regards