How do you think Oke-Ogun can succeed in the effort to produce the next governor of the state?
There is a need to create necessary awareness across Oke-Ogun and the entire state that, indeed, Oke-Ogun is prepared to produce the next governor of the state. And to achieve that, our people must know that it is not just by mere clamouring or sloganeering. The people who were not of voting age in 2015 but are now 18-years-old and more should go and register while others who have not collected their voter cards should hurry and do so. They have the opportunity to do that now. And I am sure we will achieve success.
The ODCF visited the 10 local governments in Oke-Ogun, saying that the zone was tired of producing the deputy governor and that the people were ready to produce the governor in 2019. But some people think the zone is not really prepared. What do you have to say?
I say a capital no to that position. I am sure it is only a few individuals who will have such view that Oke-Ogun people are not prepared to produce the governor of Oyo State. Even the governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and prominent Ibadan indigenes have talked about why Oke-Ogun should be supported to produce the next governor and they are ready to back it up. What is left for Oke-Ogun is to present a candidate that will be generally acceptable to Ibadan, Oyo, Ogbomoso and Ibarapa zones of the state, because anyone who will become the governor of Oyo State from Oke-Ogun must be accessible to all zones and they all must be convinced that he will perform well.
But some people are even saying that Oke-Ogun’s claim that the governorship post should be zoned to the area is against the spirit of merit and good governance. What is your view?
Whoever says that is not sincere. Look at the 1999 presidential election, when the North zoned the presidency to the South. Are they saying that the North did not have credible candidates? But the North told all their candidates that it was the turn of the South to produce the president and all the eligible candidates from the North were asked to keep quiet. So, credible candidates are not limited to one zone; you can get 1,001 candidates from Oke-Ogun who can govern the state and you can get them from Ogbomoso, Oyo and Ibarapa. But for us to continue living together in harmony, we have to consider that rotation. It is a matter of justice, which is a product of the mind. We read the law and constitution but we can put these aside; justice and fairness come from the minds and the people of the state should be sincere by saying that it is the turn of Oke-Ogun to produce the governor.
and then