By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

A socio-political movement in Ogun West Senatorial District; Ogun West Initiative has renewed its call that the next governor of Ogun State emerge from Ogun West Senatorial District, emphasizing the need for equity, fairness and justice in the state’s political landscape.

Speaking at a press conference in Abeokuta on Monday, the Convener of the initiative, Mr. Bolaji Adeniji, outlined the developmental challenges Ogun West has faced over the years, describing them as missed economic opportunities.

He lamented the district’s infrastructural deficit, particularly the deplorable state of roads and inadequate human capital development in education and healthcare.

Adeniji argued that these inequalities could only be effectively addressed if Ogun West gains political power in the 2027 gubernatorial election.

He noted that Ogun West has become politically sophisticated, with a renewed consciousness and strategic efforts to unify the zone ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said, “Ogun West particularly, peopled by the Yewa and Awori ethnic nationalities is brimming with both manifest and latent potentials, but despite these, it continues to crawl and occupy the back-seat in terms of all indices of inclusive development”.

“Many support groups and perennial agitators have perpetually lamented the backwardness of the district on many fronts, the apparent decline in recent years, have brought to the fore, more than ever before, the need for Ogun West to gain the ultimate political ascendancy – that is political power – for it to come to be liberated and enhance the dignity of its people and give them a sense of value as Ogun State citizens”.

“We are of the conviction that there is a nexus between power and development. When political power is domiciled within a geographical location, development necessarily gravitates towards that location. It is a notorious fact, backed with empirical facts that one of the reasons why Ogun East and Ogun Central are far more developed than Ogun West is because they have had access to political power; and this is without prejudice against former chief executives of the state and present governor with regards to the good faith they displayed at ensuring that all part of the state receive equitable share of resources and attention”.

“Notwithstanding the purported good faith, evidence on ground does not support that allusion. For example, the Ota-Agbara industrial cluster created in Ado-Odo/Ota local government decades ago and which was responsible for substantial part of the state’s IGR, is now becoming a relic due to bad infrastructure and lack of good faith by the administration”.

“The agrarian potentials in Ado-Odo and trade routes to Lagos remain untapped. The vast arable land and topography of Yewa North Local Government is enough for an agricultural revolution in the state and its value chain effect. The tourism potentials in Imeko-Afon and Ipokia Local Governments remain latent and that is in addition to the failure of successive governments to harness their locational advantage being along the West Africa trade region for economic benefit; rather than leaving it open for illicit trade”.

“The natural resources located within Yewa South Local Government is enough for government to build an enterprise around it in conjunction with foreign investors – if it indeed has an economic development plan that takes cognizance of that inherent opportunity”.

“Do we even talk of the oil prospects in Tongeji Island in Ipokia local Government that a concerted engagement with the Federal Government could have ramped up exploration activities faster than expected. All the developmental imperatives highlighted above falls within the precinct of missed economic opportunities for the zone particularly and the state at large”.

“In terms of infrastructure, our roads are in decrepit situation and human capital development (i.e. education and health utilities) are grossly inadequate when compared to what is available to other senatorial districts. Again we say this advisedly and not to denigrate efforts of the administration in Ogun West”.

“In view of the foregoing, Ogun West Initiative is persuaded that these inequalities and injustice can only be addressed through political power and that for the next electoral cycle come 2027 and after 49 years of the state’s creation, the Governor of Ogun State should come from Ogun West Senatorial District”.

“We are not demanding for power as of right, pity or mere concession as previously done, but there is a new paradigm and intentional shift in the agitation for governorship this time around; bothering on meritocracy and democratic fervour that is oozing from the district and saturating all over the state at the moment”.

“Ogun West has come of age and the fault-lines that have denied us over the years are now being closed up. The zone is putting its house in order and as at today, there is a convergence and aggregation of opinion, backed by strategic action to ensure unanimity of purpose leading to Ogun West presenting a formidable front for 2027”.

“While we are building bridges, structures and creating necessary handshakes with the other zones, we are meticulously putting in place the needed electoral infrastructure towards a successful campaign”.

“There is now a political sophistication and consciousness in Ogun West today never seen prior to now. For close watchers of political development in and around the Gateway state, it is undeniable fact that Ogun West has become the epicentre of activities and that the gravitas of politics has shifted to Ogun West; suffice to say that our desire to have the Chief Executive of the state for 2027 is no longer a sectional agenda, but a popular demand that is being accepted and even promoted by our brothers from Egba, Ijebu and Remo”.

The initiative also acknowledged the contributions of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, in bridging Ogun West’s developmental gap.

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Adeniji credited the senator for facilitating numerous people-oriented projects and empowerment programs that have uplifted the district.