JEGEDE’S CHOICE IN LINE WITH ONDO’S ROTATIONAL SYSTEM

A pressure group, Ondo Continuity Group, OCG, at the weekend rose in defence of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate in Ondo State, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, saying his choice is in line with the original zoning formula that has existed since the colonial era.
The group in a press statement by its chairman, Prince Kayode Fasua, and Secretary, Mr. Victor Jimoh, stressed that the old divisional system creates fairness and equity in the allotment of political slots in a heterogeneous society like Ondo State, as against a senatorial district pattern.

Rising from a two-day meeting in Akure, the state capital, the group stated that it is only the Akure Division out of the five divisions in Ondo State that has not produced a civilian governor.

"We are only amused that people are talking of power shift from the Ondo Central senatorial district to another district. The truth is that, Ondo, as it is currently constituted, has five major ethnic groups, on the basis of which it has been rotating the governorship position.

"Before Ekiti State was excised from the present Ondo State, we used to have six divisions recognised since the colonial era; namely, Okitipupa, Ondo, Akure, Owo, Akoko and Ekiti.

"But with the creation of Ekiti State, we were left with five divisions and four of the divisions had produced governors, with Akure yet to produce one.

"The governors from the different four divisions are: Adekunle Ajasin (Owo) Adebayo Adefarati (Akoko) Olusegun Agagu (Okitipupa) and Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo)."

"The OCG, as a result, saluted the wisdom of the ruling PDP in Ondo State to have honoured this rotational arrangement needed to promote peace and understanding among the various heterogeneous ethnic groups that constitute the state."

The group also added that it had endorsed the candidature of Jegede, considering his pedigree and good track record in public administration, "especially on the basis of being a successful Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State.

"Our only advice to Jegede now is that he should consider a division that has never produced a deputy governor to pick his running mate, and we wish him luck," the OCG enthused.