…Urges Other Zones to Fight for the Seat
A prominent Mogaji in Ibadanland, Mogaji Abass Oloko, has faulted recent remarks by the President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Sulaimon Ajeniyi Ajewole, warning that the statement appears to signal “a gang-up against Ibadan” ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Oloko in a statement reacted to a live edition of the BCOS programme Guest of the Month, where the CCII President-General declared that Ibadan would not use its numerical strength as a political weapon and would never insist on producing the next governor.
Ajewole had emphasised that Ibadan, despite controlling 11 of Oyo State’s 33 local government areas, has never deployed its demographic advantage for political domination. He argued that competence, not origin, has historically shaped the city’s voting pattern.
“For us in Ibadan, what has always counted is competence. If someone comes with capacity, campaigns here, and earns the trust of the people, we will support him. Origin has never been our yardstick. Ibadan will not gate-keep the governorship,” Ajewole said.
He also recalled that non-Ibadan candidates such as former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala had defeated top Ibadan contenders, including the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
But reacting, Mogaji Abass Oloko said such a position was unfair to Ibadan and could be interpreted as an attempt to weaken the city’s political relevance.
According to him, the CCII President-General’s comments “Suggest that Ibadan people should deliberately step aside in an election where our sons and daughters are eminently qualified.”
He said: ” With due respect to Chief Ajewole, his statement signals a gang-up against Ibadan. Why must Ibadan people be the ones consistently urged to sacrifice their political strength? We have prominent sons and daughters who are capable of becoming governor in 2027. Let other zones also fight for it.”
Oloko insisted that Ibadan’s openness should not be mistaken for weakness, adding that, “Ibadan has always been accommodating, but accommodation does not mean abdication. We will not allow anyone to guilt-trip Ibadan into surrendering its legitimate political aspirations.”
Mogaji Oloko insisted that while he respects Ajewole’s contributions, Ibadan’s political interests must not be undermined adding that Ibadan parades eminent personalities in the political arena like Oloye Teslim Folarin, Adebayo Adelabu, Oloye Taofeek Adegoke, Senator Abiodun Sarafadeen Alli among others .
“What Ibadan deserves in 2027 is fair competition, not pre-emptive surrender. Ibadan has produced leaders of great capacity, and in 2027, we will not apologise for presenting competent aspirants,” he said.
