FOR THE RECORD
THE 21ST CENTURY AKURE KINGDOM AND HER POLITICAL EXPLOITS
BY: ORIMOLOYE, Ifeoluwa
Akure town is one of the ancient cities having its source from the ‘orirun yoruba’ (the source of the Yoruba people) which is Ile-Ife. Akure remains a town with the ancient touches, yet retains the look of a modern city, a quality which is peculiar to places like Ibadan city. It is a state capital and the hospitality of its people cannot be overemphasized, a fact which can be asserted by the peaceful co-existence between natives and ‘sojourners’ that include the hausas, Fulani and Ibos with vast market for businesses to thrive and arable land for farming. Akure land is most serene, considering especially the pleasant climatic condition. Whether or not you want to afford yourself some pleasures of sort, Akure town with strategically selected, yet economic considerate resort centres will lure or entice you, leaving you with just that pleasing succor which you have always longed for. I do not want to delve into other features that makes Akure town stands out, because my description of the rest of the features will leave you wondering as to whether this piece is an advertorial of sort. But these are facts that can as well be confirmed in the Wikipedia page dedicated to Akure.
While it is important to note that Nigeria aims to be the giant of Africa, Akure town also aims to be the giant of Ondo state and in fact the Yoruba nation. Unarguably, this is evident in what suggests to be the rapid development and expansion that Akure has witnessed in the last few years. Almost with a corresponding increase in the standard and cost of living. Readers, do not be surprised if, in the next few years, plots of land are sold at almost the same rate with that of Lagos state and Ogun states, this a development which is almost happening as we speak.
My development from childhood had witnessed a lot of opportunities in Akure town, and so I have often reminded myself of the privilege of being a native of Akure. Chief Oluyemisi Falae, and Pa Reuben Fasoranti are some of the political idols that Akure have produced. This is asides very many others that time and space would not afford me to mention. Do not forget that Oluyemisi Falae was a presidential aspirant in the year 1999. And so, in terms of politics, the 20th - 21st century is a very sensitive period and it therefore remains a period of reference for the people of Akure.
Considering all of these factors, I have resolved to document in brief the political strides of the modern, and indeed the 21st century Akure community.
Akure town has witnessed many of these exploits but unfortunately has not availed herself the opportunity of producing a governor of Ondo state since inception, despite its political exposure that can only (be compared) with other ancient Yoruba towns, and not any town within the shores of Ondo state. Yet those towns have produced governors not only once but in turns. Ibadan for instance can boast of products that have led the whole of Oyo state, in turns. It is almost surprising, that with its political heroes and leaders in other fields of endeavor, Akure is still considered incomplete with an almost near absence in the area of producing a leader (governor) of the state. Whereas, Akure town has continued in its existence to provide shelters (at Oke eda) for leaders, and indeed governors whose root are found outside the shores of Akure town.
As self-realization is the key to unlocking some doors, Akure town discovered what seemed to be the problem with the seeming loophole in the political scheme of affairs and have thus thought of unity of purpose as one of the ways by which the shackles of political deprivation can be unlocked. It is discovered that Akure is composed of giants with high scorecards in the areas of public administration, strategic studies, political arithmetic, intellectual business and other needs necessary to achieve success in any election. In addition to this is an overwhelming population, which according an article I wrote, suggests that the decision or influence of the people of Akure in any election [in ondo state] cannot be treated with a wave of hand. What was observed in the election (which followed my artificial prophesy) was the fact that despite the incumbent governor’s prowress in terms of what can be described as political brilliance, political calculations and oratory gifts, coupled with his position (as the then southwest campaign chairman of his political party) his party lost in the election, and President Buhari won in Ondo state with a wide margin. This is due to the votes generated in Akure town. This influence was enormous. It was later discovered that;
1. Akure spoke in one voice during the Nigerian 2015 presidential election and it spoke volume. A lot of conclusions were as well drawn.
2. The governor of the state almost lost the seats in the state assembly elections (located especially within Akure district) but for the fact that he was quick to have appeased the people of Akure, although discreetly.
3. This of course signifies that what Akure has been lacking is the unity of purpose, and was made evident in the united front the Akure people took in the presidential elections.
Therefore, having discovered the essence of the unity of purpose, Akure people have in the recent times, established, with the help of pressure groups within Akure district including the national association of Akure students and the Akure youth coalition and have met to brainstorm on the need to produce a governor of Akure origin. To them, despite the political strength and having in their possession the title of the state capital, there hasn't been any point in history where an Akure individual was recorded to have occupied the Ondo state governorship seat. Of course, the collaboration of the pressure groups gave rise to a group being referred to as the Akure Agenda group. Since its inception, the Akure agenda group has facilitated the emergence of a senator Sen. Donald Tayo Alasoadura from Akure who as at the time of compiling this draft, represents the people of Ondo central senatorial district comprising local governments within Ondo town and Akure town. It is important to bear in mind the fact that for a very long time, people from nearby town were the ones opportune to have won the senatorial seat. In the same vein, the Akure agenda group is also aimed at facilitating the emergence of an Akure individual with respect to the Ondo 2016 governorship election.
Of course, the AKURE AGENDA GROUP is endorsed by the Deji of Akure, the paramount ruler of Akure town, who have recently declared his support for an Akure candidature for the seat of the governor of Ondo state. Whether or not this feat is achievable is dependent on the extent to which Akure is unified in relation to this aim. Overtime, the issue of unity is being attended to, even as Akure have neglected what used to be the disparity between Akure sub-divisions. The differences owing to boundary factors have been settled. Such that we now have the unified Akure that have embraced the unique Akure mother-tongue as a means of identification rather than boundaries. Interestingly, Akure shall, in a matter of months adopt her governorship candidate and by then, the whole politicking shall brought into the limelight.



Cc: lalasticlala
Ishilove

Am proud of my home town...Akure ooo!!!oye oooo!!!