The agitation for Òkèògùn Governorship in 2027 has gone beyond a mere political aspiration; it has become a moral and generational mandate — a call for justice, equity, and fair representation in the political architecture of Ọ̀yọ́ State.
Yet, if this dream must transcend rhetoric and become reality, Òkèògùn must rediscover the age-long virtue that has built great nations, transformed ordinary men into extraordinary achievers, and turned impossibility into triumph. That agelong virtue is no other virtue than the two-in-one virtue of Teamwork and Team Spirit.
Teamwork, in Òkèògùn’s advocacy for Governorship Power Rotation, means all sons and daughters of the region uniting, speaking, and working together with one voice to achieve the common goal of producing the next governor.
Team spirit, in Òkèògùn’s advocacy for Governorship Power Rotation, means standing together with loyalty, unity, and shared passion to support one another and push the region’s common goal with one heart.
For decades, Òkèògùn has been a region rich in human capital, natural resources, intellectual depth, and moral fibre. Yet, its marginalisation and political exclusion have persisted, not merely because of the external dominance of Ìbàdàn or the manipulative tendencies of power blocs from other zones, but because of an internal ailment — the absence of unity, synergy, and collective action among her own people.
We cannot continue to point accusing fingers outward while our hands remain divided inward. Òkèògùn’s challenge is not only political; it is psychological and cultural. It is the failure to build a united front, to harmonise interests, and to prioritise the collective vision above individual ambition.
Aspirants from Òkèògùn must understand that the contest for 2027 is not a battlefield of personalities, but a platform of partnership. It is not about who emerges, but about ensuring that one of us does. When brothers compete with hostility, outsiders feast on their division.
“Àkùkọ wa ní ń gbé ogbe orí rẹ̀ fún Kọ̀lọ̀kọ̀lọ̀ jẹ́” –
What the Yorùbá elders sought to convey through the profound proverb above is that the root of our marginalisation is not merely external oppression but our own complicity — like the cock that foolishly offers its golden lobe as a meal to the fox. In essence, Òkèògùn’s exclusion endures not because others are stronger, but because we, through disunity and complacency, have allowed our treasures, rights, and rightful place in leadership to be squandered before our very eyes.
Furthermore, when the fingers refuse to come together, even the smallest object becomes impossible to lift. The Yorùbá elders captured this eternal truth in the proverb: “Àgbájọ-ọwọ́ la fi ń s’ọ̀yà, àjèjé-ọwọ́ kan ò gb’ẹ́rù d’órí” — meaning, it is the collective strength of joined hands that carries a load to the head, not the effort of a single finger. In the same way, Òkèògùn’s quest for Governorship Power Rotation can only succeed through unity of purpose, mutual trust, and the seamless collaboration of all her people, standing together as one formidable hand ready to lift their collective destiny.
Òkèògùn must, therefore, rise beyond self-centred ambitions and embrace the principle of oneness — the same way the human body functions with each part of the human body — eyes, hands, legs, heart — working independently yet dependently.
In other words, the eye does not walk, yet it guides the legs. The hand does not see, yet it protects the eyes. The brain does not move, yet it coordinates all movements. None seeks supremacy; all seek synergy. Together, they sustain life. Likewise, Òkèògùn must function as one body — every individual, every community, every aspirant — working in complement, not in conflict.
Teamwork is not a luxury; it is a necessity — the lifeblood of every collective struggle and the foundation of lasting success. Without it, strength scatters, vision blurs, and great potential fades into waste. Again, the Yorùbá elders, in their timeless wisdom, captured this truth in the proverb: “Àìrìnpọ̀ Ejò ní ṣ’ẹkú pa wọ́n, k’Ọ́ká ó má lọ n’íwájú, kí S’èbé ó t’ẹ̀lé, k’Ójòlá ó má wọ́ ruru tẹ́lé wọn l’ẹ́yìn, taní jẹ́ gbé’ná w’ojú ọmọ ẹranko?” — meaning that the reason snakes often fall victim to hunters is their failure to move in unity and cooperation. If the cobra, the rattlesnake, and the python could march in one accord, no hunter would dare challenge their power. In the same way, if Òkèògùn stands together in unity of spirit, purpose, and action, no force can stop her from rising to her rightful place in the political leadership of Oyo State.
Therefore, the leaders, elders, aspirants, and youth of Òkèògùn must see themselves not as rivals, but as teammates on a sacred mission. The slogan should be “We, not I; Us, not Me.” Our strategy should not be a contest of egos, but a coalition of energies.
True progress is born from collective discipline, sacrifice, mutual respect, and shared purpose. The dream of producing a Governor from Òkèògùn will not materialise through division and disunity, but through deliberate cooperation and genuine esprit de corps. The secret of winning lies in bonding — a truth echoed in the Yorùbá wise saying, “ká ṣe ’ra wa l’ọ́kan bíi òṣùṣù-òwọ̀,” meaning that true strength emerges when we bind ourselves together like broomsticks united in purpose.
At this juncture, we can draw useful lessons from a story of the Soldiers about Team Spirit. During a fierce battle, a platoon of soldiers was surrounded by the enemy. One of the soldiers was shot and lay helpless on the battlefield. His friend, against orders, ran back to rescue him. When he returned, he was badly wounded and his friend was dead. The commander, furious, shouted, “Was it worth it?” The soldier, struggling to breathe, replied, “Yes, sir. When I reached him, he was still alive. He smiled and said, ‘I knew you would come.’”
That is team spirit — what the military call esprit de corps: the unbreakable bond that drives men to stand for one another, to fight together, and to believe in a shared destiny, even at personal cost.
If Òkèògùn can cultivate this spirit — standing for one another, believing in one another, and fighting together for one another — no political force can stop her march to the Government House in 2027. This is, because, when a people stand united in purpose, no mountain is too high, no river too deep, and no dream too distant.
In conclusion, what more can be said than to declare with conviction and faith: Together, Òkèògùn shall rise! Together, Òkèògùn shall win!
When Òkèògùn wins, it rekindles hope for every other marginalised region, proving that justice, equity, and inclusion are achievable through unity of purpose. This is why our struggle must be rooted in collaboration, not competition — for our strength lies not in rivalry, but in the collective resolve to lift one another and advance the cause of fairness for all.
Pst. Favour Adéwọyin,
National Secretary, Ẹgbẹ́ Àjọṣepọ̀ Fún Ìtẹsiwájú Gbogbo Wa.
