Oyo Federal Constituency has been one of the strong Federal Constituencies representing Oyo State in the Federal House of Representatives.
Representatives have been emerging from Oyo town without opening the door of the Green Chamber for the people from Afijio Local Government Area to represent the Constituency at the Second House of Law in Abuja.
Without mincing words, as we approach 2027, there is a lot to start asking the People of Oyo Federal Constituency, as to see the reason to consider Afijio as a part of the Federal Constituency, by giving the area, the opportunity to produce a Candidate for the House of Representatives beyond the fixed limit of highest determiners.
Nonetheless, no candidate from Afijio Local Government can represent Oyo Federal Constituency at the Lower Chamber without the strong support of people of Oyo town which has the highest voters with three out of four Local Government Areas under Oyo Federal Constituency.
However, Afijio, Atiba, Oyo East and Oyo West are Four Local Government Areas that form the Oyo Federal Constituency. Since 1999, Oyo has been the only one producing the Rep Members representing our Constituency. Let go back to the track of history, Hon. Segun Taiwo was the First Reps Member to represent Oyo Federal Constituency from Oyo town while the current Chairman of Oyo State Fire Service Commission, Dr. Maroof Akinwande, the former Chairman, Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency, Hon. Kamil Akinlabi have represented the constituency in the past as well as Hon. Akeem Adeyemi who presently represents the constituency have all emerged from Oyo.
Then, It raises a question of importance in the minds of people of Afijio as to if they’re really part of the constituency or there are only useful for voting in election?
This clamour for shift of power in Oyo Federal Constituency may sound like voice against marginalization to some while other can deduce it as nothing. Zoning has been playing a vital role in Nigeria politics from ward level to national level, though it’s not Constitutionally recognized.
Adopting zoning in the Oyo Federal Constituency to Afijio by Political Parties can primarily pave way for transparency and fairness which can yielding to better representative.
In Oyo Central Senatorial District which Local Government Areas from Ibadan, Oyo and Ogbomosho are under, zoning system fashion out to create a basic for equitable distribution of political power through electoral process. The serving Senator representing the Senatorial District, Dr. Yunuus Akintunde is also from Oyo town.
Again, it raises the question, what are the political offences of Afijio people are?
In other words, the main Political Parties in our Constituency and stalwarts of such party like All Progressive Congress (APC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) and other, should take a step for zeal of democracy ahead of 2027 election by considering zoning Oyo Federal Constituency ticket to Afijio Local Government to make the people of the Council feel recognized in the Oyo Federal Constituency and also identify themselves with the Nigeria Constitution.
Meanwhile, this piece is not about power tussle; as I pointed out earlier no aspiring individual that has interests to represent our Constituency in 2027 from Afijio Council can win the election without a strong support from other three Council Areas in Oyo and for those who have started to ask a questions that if the main Political Parties in Oyo decided to zone the ticket to Afijio is there anybody that has the capacity and qualified to represent the Constituency from the Council? Before attempting the question don’t forget that Hon. Akeem Adeyemi who’s representing our Constituency currently was once a Former Council Chairman and moving back to the question, Afijio Local Government has many notable and individual politicians that are capable to represent and fostering good governance in Oyo Federal Constituency.
However, this is not a voice of our turn but an appealing to the Political Parties Leaders, Traditional Rulers, Religious Bodies, Traders Association and other stakeholders in our Constituency to consider as well as embrace the calls of Afijio people in representing the Oyo Federal Constituency at House of Representatives ahead of not too far 2027 election for the aims of political equity and good representative.
