The Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Political Matters, Muniru Raji, has criticized the calls for the zoning of the governorship ticket to Osogbo in the 2026 election, describing them as self-serving and shortsighted.
Raji, who is also the Asiwaju Musulumi of Osogboland, made these remarks at a stakeholder engagement during the Osogbo Affairs Forum in Osogbo.
He emphasized that the town should focus on unity before pushing for a governorship bid, suggesting that a more realistic timeframe for Osogbo to present a united front would be 2030.
According to Raji, Osogbo is not yet prepared to produce a governor in 2026. He urged the town to prioritize internal cohesion and political organization over individual ambitions, stressing the importance of solidifying their foundations in the coming years.
Raji also warned that internal divisions among Osogbo’s political stakeholders could jeopardize the town’s prospects of having an indigene serve as governor of Osun in 2030. He urged the people of Osogbo to put aside party politics and work together to build a stronger, more united front. He further argued that without such unity, the goal of producing a governor from Osogbo would remain unachievable.
“Osogbo is not yet ripe to produce a governor in 2026. Rather, the town should aim for unity before pursuing political ambitions. Such agitation is self-serving, ill-advised, and myopic.
“What the town needs now is to first put its house in order before their aspiration and wait for the next five years,” he said.
“They should jettison party politics of acrimony in the quest to further build a united front and formidable frontier to achieve the goal. Osogbo is not ripe for a governorship push now. We need to put our house in order first,” said the governor’s aide. “Osogbo has the potential to lead the state, but disunity among our people remains a significant barrier.”
He added, “Without a united front, achieving the dream of producing a governor from Osogbo will be nearly impossible. Our focus should be on uniting our town and strengthening our foundations.
“Political ambitions like governor at this stage will only divide us.”