The recent story about a supposed battle between Owo and Ose for the federal constituency seat, though faintly covered and poorly presented, appears to be a contrived and hypocritical narrative, likely sponsored by certain vested interests.
Despite being framed as a collective agitation from the people of Ose, the story is nothing more than a thinly veiled political campaign that should have been ignored for its shallowness. However, allowing such falsehoods to go unchallenged risks giving them undue weight, especially among the unsuspecting political class.
Sadly, Owo continues to suffer from both vertical and horizontal political marginalisation within the federal constituency and senatorial district. There is no clear, sustainable strategy for preserving our collective political strength. Instead, we remain fixated on petty battles that distract us from addressing larger, more important issues.
While our so-called political elites remain stuck in tactical failures, our youth are left settling for tokenism. With paltry offers like a few Okada or N20,000 empowerment schemes, many are willing to sell their heritage to political enslavers.
This systemic failure has led to a situation in which our political history carries little weight, and the sacrifices made for cultural influence are forgotten. Whatever political achievements the Akokos have realised today, it was not by chance but through deliberate, strategic unifying activities and intentionality.
Owo, on the other hand, is mired in cycles of self-destruction and self-domination. Every time an Owo native rises to a position of relevance, the battle for dominance begins, often at the expense of fellow Owo sons and daughters. Currently, the Akoko North-West/East Federal constituency has two federal ministers and a senator, all working together as brothers. If there is to be a replacement for the senatorial slot in 2027, it is most certain that Akoko and Ikare, in particular, will retain it. Talk of political sophistry and collective vision for development, the Akokos always see beyond the immediate.
But come to Owo, as soon as one attains the position of authority, they’re determined to silence the voice of others. The tools of this self-destruction are the jobless, unemployed and unemployable youths who are easily manipulated by politically funded disorderliness, harassment, and even criminal activities. These individuals have turned immoral conduct and criminality into an industry, with the help of politicians who thrive on dominance and oppression.
In Owo, it is almost impossible for two individuals from the same town to compete for different positions in different political parties without being attacked. Thugs are often unleashed to destroy campaign materials or even harm the major political actors.
Despite their show of self-domination and unproductive self-oppression, there is little discussion about a unified developmental objective. We are witnessing a transition from senatorial diminishment to federal constituency bullying. A person who has occupied a position for 7 years is now claiming a “local government right” through a cheap campaign, yet Owo are sleeping and snoring. ‘Owo’, the place of value, has now become ‘Owo’, the hand that cleanses the faces of others—sad.
The author of the Ose/Owo dichotomy piece claims that the demands were “rooted in the principles of equity, balance, and political stability,” supposedly in contrast to individual ambition. Ironically, it is the selfish ambition of an individual that drives this campaign to keep the federal constituency seat in a town with fewer than 1,000 electoral votes at the expense of the entire Ose local government and, by extension, the whole federal constituency.
The argument being pushed by the paid writer is nothing more than an attempt to secure the incumbent House member’s seat, whose performance has been uninspiring if not abysmal. But let us assume, for a moment, that this so-called “collective desire” from the Ose people is genuine. Does this also include the desire to retain the current occupant, who hails from Okeluse—an Ose community that has already produced all three of the House of Reps members from this local government? If the author of that Hocus Pocus is dumb, are Owo people lost on the fact that fairness in democracy also means that the majority counts?
Has anyone considered whether the House of Representatives seat has now become a hereditary chieftaincy title, handed down to Okeluse? Since the return of democracy, Ose has produced three members of the House of Representatives: Hon. Bobby Omotosho, Hon. Eni Omosule, and Hon. Timilehin Adelegbe.
At the end of Adelegbe’s term next year, it will mark eight years of wasted opportunities under his tenure. Despite this, Adelegbe-Okeluse still wants to appropriate Ose’s electoral success, leveraging votes from other, larger communities. In return, Adelegbe offers nothing more than occasional handouts and poorly executed projects that fall far short of budgetary standards.
What, then, has Adelegbe achieved to justify any further consideration for the position? To support his re-election is to endorse stagnation, mediocrity, and an ongoing lack of vibrant representation.
It is, therefore, nonsensical to hide behind the false narrative of political imbalance between Owo and Ose to justify the continuation of a failed House member in office. Okeluse is not the only community in Owo/Ose. It is high time that we allow other communities to have a say and to breathe politically.
If Owo, with nearly triple Ose’s population, is content to undermine its population strength and forfeit its political rights, then let Owo stop complaining about underdevelopment. We should allow Akokos to keep the senate while Adelegbe becomes a permanent house member. I guess we can make do with the thuggery of our youths and the discordant tunes of our political scavengers.
– Olarenwaju Modupe writes from Isaipen Owo