Akinwande bemoans lack of unity in Ogun West District

...says last Guber election was a failure of leadership in Ogun West

Engr. Gbenga Akinwande, President of a non-governmental organization under the auspices of Gbenga Akinwande Foundation, has bemoaned the division in Ogun West, saying the lack of unity in the senatorial district cost it the gubernatorial position in the last election.

Akinwande said the results of the last governorship election in the State demonstrated failure of leadership in the senatorial district.

The foundation President spoke on the sidelines of the 2019/2020 edition of Yewa-Awori Unity Football Cup final in Ayetoro on Thursday.

The competition which saw Oja-odan football team beat Ayetoro team by one goal to nil in the finals was sponsored by the Gbenga Akinwande foundation and is targeted at promoting unity among the youths of Ogun West.

Dignitaries at the football competition include the Alaye of Ayetoro, Oba Ishola Adelakun, the Onimeko of Imekoland, Oba Benjamin Olanite, the Baale of Idofoi, Chief Ajani Abioro, among others.

According to Akinwande, there is need for unity in the senatorial district now more than ever.

He called on the traditional institutions in both Yewaland and Aworiland to institute mechanisms for integration of the people in the senatorial district, adding that the council of Obas must begin to galvanize support for future political contests.

"The last gubernatorial election did show that there is serious division in Ogun West. Analysis of that result showed there divisions : the old Egbado South, the Old Egbado North and Aworiland, with each of the three going in different camps.

"I think at this juncture, the traditional institutions in both Yewaland and Aworiland need to open channel of communication for the exchange of ideas and integration of purpose. "

"What happened in the last election was a failure of leadership in Ogun West because we should not have gone to that election with two powerful contending forces."

"Now the challenge of preventing such future occurrences lies squarely on both Ilaro and the Ota palaces. Both the Olu of Ilaro and the Olota of Ota must begin to play influential roles among the council of Obas in Ogun West to galvanize support for future challenges." he said.

Speaking in a similar vein, the Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Olanite noted that although the Senatorial district is blessed with quality citizens, there was need for more cohesion and unity among the people.

The monarch said "The problem with us in Ogun West is that we are people of different ethnic background. Though we are Yorubas, we have Egun in Ogun West, we have Awori from Ogun West. We have people from Oyo that we call Egbado West. While we have the Ketus as well. We have a lot of quality embellished in our senatorial district. But we have to be more united.

"That is why we need more competitions like this to bring us together. Football has become a universal industry that unites people of different religion, people of different ethnic, and race. It is a unifying factor. It is bringing unity in diversity."

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