By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

A renowned Socio-cultural Organization in Kwara South Senatorial District of the state, “Orisun Igbomina” has advocated for zoning of the governorship slot to Kwara North in 2027 in the interest of equity, justice and fairness, saying that there’s no other time to effect the agelong imbalance than now.

National President of the Sociocultural organisation Chief Gbenga Awoyale said this in a statement made available to Vanguard Correspondent in ilorin while reacting to recent comment by Senator Lola Ashiru representing Kwara South in the National Assembly, that he’s against zoning of Governorship slot in 2027.

Awoyale said in the statement that, “The statement by the Kwara South Senator is nothing to be taken seriously. It is just an encrypted message to advance his agenda to return to the Senate for the 3rd term because he knows it should ordinarily be Igbomina’s turn. But I wish to let Sen. Ashiru know that it will not work.

“Of course, one would not expect Sen. Ashiru to support zoning gubernatorial ticket to Kwara North in 2027, because he feels if the formula, which guarantees fairness and equity is adopted and generalized, it would affect him as well. He won’t return to Senate. So, he has to start talking down on zoning arrangements early enough.”

Going down memory lane, Awoyale said “Kwara South is a tripod, consisting of Igbomina, Ekiti and Ibolo extractions. Since return of democracy in 1999, we’ve had four Senators within that 25years, out of which Igbomina only served 5years, while Ekiti and Ibolo served 12years and 8years respectively.

“By the time Sen. Ashiru who is an Ibolo man completes his current second term, it would be 12 years spent in the Senate by the Ibolos in Kwara South. It is therefore utterly unfair for anybody to be plotting continued marginalization of the most populous segment of the Kwara South.

He added that,“Emphatically, Sen. Makanjuola Ajadi – an Igbomina man served as Kwara South Senator between 1999 and 2004; Sen. Simeon Ajibola – an Ekiti man between 2004 and 2015; Sen. Rafiu Ibrahim – an Ibolo man between 2015 to 2019, and he was succeeded by another Ibolo man – Sen. Lola Ashiru in 2019, who remains our Senator till date.

“We see the recent comments by Sen. Ashiru as a ploy to attract political attention and invite politicians to negotiation table with him, where he can advance his selfish third term senatorial ambition. “

Awoyale noted that “In clear terms, Orisun Igbomina stands strongly by zoning governorship of Kwara state to the Northern Senatorial District, while also affirming our commitment to ensuring we halt the continued marginalization of the Igbomina people in Kwara South Senatorial District by working with our well meaning and altruistic brothers from Ekiti and Ibolo axis to have a fair and inclusive representation in government.

Recall that Senator Lola Ashiru in his recent media Interaction in his Offa country home, spoke against zoning in 2027 elections in the state and harped on negotiations among other issues he raised.