The traditional rulers and indigenes of Oke-Ogun working in the Federal College of Education, Oyo, have called on the people of the region to see the 2027 gubernatorial election as an opportunity to open the area to genuine development.
The call came during a reception programme held at the institution to mark the two years in office of Ademola Rauf Salami, provost of the college, who is an indigene of Saki West Local Government Area by the Oke-Ogun Indigenes Staff Forum of the FCE.
Emmanuel Adegbola, retired Army Colonel and chairman of the occasion, called for concerted efforts from all Indigenes of Oke-Ogun to vote for any candidate from the area, so as to right the wrongs that have been done to the people overtime.
“I call for concerted efforts from all the people of our region to see the 2027 election as a rallying point for us to liberate our people instead of lamentations,” he said.
Adegbola said that he left Saki for over 37years to serve in the military and the area had little or no positive development till date.
“I left Saki over 37years ago to serve in the army and upon my arrival, I have seen nothing substantive in areas of human and infrastructural development, other regions are proud to list three, four or more federal institutions in their areas but we cannot do the same.
“It is a shame for anyone or group to opt for the Deputy Governorship position, come 2027,” he declared.
Rauf Olaniyan, former deputy governor of Oyo State, called on Oke-Ogun people to go enmass to get their voters’ card in preparation for the 2027 election.
Olaniyan said of the 1,778million Ibadan people that registered to vote in the 2023 elections, only 401,000 thousand voted while a paltry 661,000 registered to vote in Oke-Ogun area but surprisingly, 300,000 voted.
“Tell our Obas in Oke-Ogun to tell any guber candidate from outside the region who comes to visit them to tell the visitor that enough is enough, we have served them enough, it is time to serve our own,” he urged.
Oba Abioye Bashir Siyanbola, the Onigbeti of Igbeti, in his own words, challenged politicians jostling for various offices to stop establishing companies outside the region, as they were contributing to the growth of the areas where their businesses were located instead of their own areas.
Akinniyi Akinleye, chairman, Oke-Ogun Indigenes Staff Forum, highlighted many achievements of the provost within his two years in office to include construction and renovation of eight important structures in the institution, procurement of utility vehicles, motorcycles among others and full accreditation of all courses in the college.
While appreciating the royal fathers, school management, the forum and dignitaries present at the occasion, the provost promised to use the remaining years of his tenure to build on the two years achievements.
