Kehinde Olaosebikan, a former chairman of Oluyole Local Government in Oyo State, has advised political and non-political actors in the Oke-Ogun area ahead of the 2027 state governorship election.

Mr Olaosebikan, in a statement on Sunday in Ibadan, said Oke-Ogun needs to come together to present a single formidable candidate for the election.

He said: “Presenting a single candidate will help the zone to actualise the desire of getting the much-sought-after governorship position.”

Mr Olaosebikan added that presenting a single candidate would also serve as a mark of honour to the late Michael Koleoso, a former secretary to the government of Oyo state (SSG).

He noted that the late Mr Koleoso spent his life in and out of government fighting for the social and political development of Oyo state with uncommon interest in Oke-Ogun Area.

“Uniting behind a candidate to achieve the lifelong dream of Oke-Ogun zone will serve as a sign of appreciation of the political struggles of the former Secretary to the Government of Oyo state and the Babalaje of Saki,” Mr Olaosebikan said.

The former chief press secretary (CPS) to the late Lam Adesina, a former governor of Oyo state, described Oke-Ogun as “the most compelling sentiment” to win the state governorship seat in the 2027 election.

He expressed conviction that the zone would get the support of the majority of other zones if its people could unite behind a generally acceptable candidate.

Mr Olaosebikan noted that the task of winning the state’s governorship seat would be easy if the politicians and non-politicians of Oke-Ogun origin could genuinely build on Koleoso’s accomplishments.

“Of the three major zones in the state —- Ibadan, Oke-Ogun, and Ogbomoso —- it is only Oke-Ogun that has not produced the state governor since the commencement of the Fourth Republic in 1999.

“The two other zones of Oyo and Ibarapa have also not won it.

“Oke-Ogun with 10 local government areas (LGAs) is second to Ibadan which has 11 LGAs, and Ogbomoso is third with five.

“Oyo has four, while Ibarapa has three.

“But Ibadan has produced all the governors since 1999, except the late Gov. Adebayo Alao-Akala from Ogbomosho, who governed the state for four years and 11 months,” he said.

(NAN)