Osun State was created 30years ago, precisely on the 27th of August, 1991. And since that time, the general belief is that, power shift arrangement is a gentleman agreement that has come to stay in Nigeria (though not written in the constitution).
In the case of Osun, going by what has transpired electorally in the past, the brilliance of the script detailing how Osun was segmented into six zones in a gazette named by the regime of the first executive Governor, Alh. Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.
Namely: Ife zone 1, which comprises of Ife Central, Ife East, Ife South, Ife North and Area Office.
Ilesa zone 2, comprises Ilesa West, Ilesa East, Atakumosa West, Atakumosa East, Oriade and Obokun.
Ede zone 3, comprises of Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo.
Ikirun zone 4, comprises of Ifelodun, Boripe, Odo-otin, Boluwaduro, Ila and Ifedayo.
Iwo zone 5, comprises of Iwo, Olaoluwa, Ayedire, Ayedaade, Irewole and Isokan.
Osogbo zone 6, comprises Osogbo, Olorunda, Orolu and Irepodun.
According to another school of thought, Osun State, just like other States across the Federation, has six distinct divisions, meaning that every Senatorial District has two distinct zones that should not be marginalized.
The school believes that it would not be proper to share political positions and other benefits basis without taking cognisance of the other legs on which the districts stand. Which breaking down the components of the three Senatorial Districts in the State, while some analysts explained that in the East Senatorial District, there are Ife and Ijesa axis while the West consists of Iwo and Ede zone. As for the Central, there are Osogbo and Ila (with their environs) axis.
The argument was then shifted backward to explain why some axis are being marginalized in the scheme of gubernatorial benefits since the period of the Western Region. Going down the memory lane by the above two analysis on Osun zoning formula, the first indigenous Governor in the defunct Western Region was Sir. Adesoji Aderemi between 1960 and 1967. He hailed from Ife in the Eastern District of the present Osun State. The late Cicero of Esa-oke, Chief James Ajibola Ige (SAN), who was once the Governor of Oyo State also hailed from Ilesa zone, Eastern part of the present Osun State in 1979-1982. Ede axis produces Alh. Isiaka Adeleke between 1992 and 1993 as governor from the Western part of Osun State.
Chief Bisi Akande from the Central Senatorial District of Osun was the governor between 1999 and 2003 from Ila axis. Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola was the governor in 2003 to 2010 also from Okuku, (Ila zone) of the Central District of Osun. Ogbeni Aregbesola, an Ijesa man from the Eastern part of Osun govern between 2010 to 2018, while the current governor, Alh Adegboyega Oyetola is from Ikirun axis of the Central part of the State.
Now, as we can see, all the three Senatorial Districts have tasted the sweetness of the coveted seat. But when we break it down from one of the two legs of each axis, Osogbo and Iwo zones from Central, and Eastern part of the State has not occupied the office of the governor at least for a day.
So far the focus is on the current rulling zone (Central) and Western zone of the state, let us break the two zones down to bring out fact, Osogbo axis comprises; Osogbo, Olohunda, Irepodun, Orolu, Ifelodun, Boripe local government areas, while Ila axis includes; Ila, Ifedayo, Boluwaduro, Odo-Otin, Olaoluwa local government areas.
The two zones in Osun West Senatorial District are Iwo and Ede. Iwo zone includes; Iwo, Isokan, Ayedire, Ejigbo, Olaoluwa, while Ede axis are Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore, Ayedaade, Irewole.
This must have informed and arose the agitation of Osun ‘West Lokan’ agenda to produce another governor. But when we critically look into the analysis, the same agitation goes for both Osogbo and Iwo zones.
To this end, the two zones (Osogbo and Iwo) from Osun Central & West) are truly due for governorship seat, but no district can singlehandedly elect a governor without the support of other zones. If Osun west is indeed due and willing to occupy the number one seat in Osun, it is time to support the current governor Adegboyega Oyetola from central Senatorial District on his second term bid to complete his 8 years developmental tenure for the district to also support the ‘West Lokan’ agenda in 2026.
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