The PDP candidate for Ogun State House of Assembly, Abeokuta South Constituency 2, Adeoye Adeniran, has maintained that while residents of the state do not oppose the aspiration of the Yewa-Awori people to produce the next governor, they would resist any attempt to impose an outsider.

Adeniran noted that the agitation for power rotation to Ogun West is legitimate, but warned against the emergence of a “non-indigene with identity crisis or a proxy sent from Lagos”.

He spoke in reaction to the Olota’s recent reaffirmation of support for Ogun West to produce the next governor during a visit by the PDP’s governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu.

DAILY POST reports that the Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege, alongside other Awori traditional rulers, reaffirmed their support for Senator Solomon Adeola as the preferred candidate for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election.

The monarch stated that equity, fairness and justice require that Ogun West be allowed to produce the next governor, adding that the Awori people had resolved to support a candidate whose agenda aligns with the senatorial district’s interests.

Reacting, the PDP chieftain asserted that the issue should not be reduced to an ethnic contest, arguing that what should matter to the people is the identity, credibility, competence and genuine connection of whoever seeks to govern the state.

He said, “Truly, as a Yewa indigene, I believe it is right for Ogun West to produce the next governor of Ogun State. But we cannot, because of that legitimate aspiration, allow a non-indigene or a proxy from Lagos to lead us. If we do, we will all regret it.”

Adeoye stressed that leadership must be built on truth and transparency, declaring that anyone who could not be trusted to tell the truth about “little things” should not be entrusted with the responsibility of governing the state.

He harped on the importance of allowing citizens to freely determine who governs them rather than presenting the position of individual traditional rulers as a collective endorsement.

Adeoye also pointed to expressions of support for Adebutu among Egba communities in Sango, Ijoko and Ota, saying such developments demonstrated that political choices in Ogun could not be reduced to the position of one traditional institution or one geographical axis.

The controversy also reportedly prompted the Palace of the Olofin Adimula Oodua of Ado-Odo, Oba Olusola Idris Osolo Adebowale Otenibotemole II, to distance itself from the position attributed to the Palace of the Olota of Ota in connection with an ‘Awori Obas Forum’.

In its clarification, the palace said the visit to the Olota should not be interpreted as representing all Awori traditional rulers in Ogun State and could not be taken as the position of all Awori traditional rulers in the state.

Reacting to the development, Adeoye argued that the ongoing debate should ultimately be settled by the electorates.

He said Ogun people deserved a governor who was genuinely connected to the state, understood its challenges and could be held accountable by its citizens.

He called on residents across the three senatorial districts to look beyond ethnic, sectional considerations and examine the antecedents, identity, credibility of candidates, before making their choice at the polls.

A non-governmental organisation, Gender Awareness Trust (GAT), has called for stronger coordination among stakeholders to deepen women’s participation in peace building across Kaduna State.

GAT Executive Director, Lydia Umar, made the call on Thursday in Kaduna, at a strategic planning meeting on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), under the Strengthening Inclusive Peace Project (SIPP) in Kaduna.

The project is supported by the Strengthening Peace and Resilience In Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme, an initiative of the UK government.

Ms Umar said the SPRiNG project was in its third year in Kaduna, adding that GAT joined the initiative during its second year and implemented several activities across Kaduna State.

She said the current phase was designed to strengthen existing structures and achievements rather than introduce another standalone intervention.

She said the approach was necessary because many development projects lose momentum after partners withdraw, leaving communities without sustainable structures.

Ms Umar said SPRiNG prioritised sustainability by establishing Male Allies, trained to promote positive masculinity and support women’s inclusion in peacebuilding

She said the strategic meeting was also aimed at strengthening the Kaduna State Action Plan Implementation Committee on WPS.

According to her, Governor Uba Sani launched the state’s Women, Peace and Security Policy last year, creating an opportunity for stakeholders to move from policy development to implementation.

Ms Umar said a previous review found that the policy was a good document but remained largely unimplemented, stressing the need to ensure effective ownership and implementation.

She said the meeting would strengthen coordination among the 25-member implementation committee and facilitate participatory planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

Ms Umar said stakeholders would also develop mechanisms for tracking implementation and providing oversight of WPS activities across Kaduna State.

She stressed that budgeting was critical to successful implementation, noting that policies could not achieve their objectives without adequate financial resources.

The executive director said the project would prioritise prevention and participation while identifying opportunities to integrate WPS priorities into state and local government programmes.

She urged committee members to ensure that the priorities were reflected in government plans, adding that their roles and responsibilities would also be reviewed.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Rabi Salisu, represented by her Senior Special Assistant, Maryam Muazu, said women should be regarded as agents of peace.

Ms Salisu said women were not merely victims of conflict but important actors in conflict prevention, mediation, reconciliation and sustainable peace.

She stressed that effective peacebuilding required coordinated efforts among government agencies, traditional and religious leaders, women, youth, civil society organisations, security agencies and development partners.

The commissioner said stronger coordination would improve information sharing, early warning responses, mediation and referral mechanisms, particularly at community level.

She urged stakeholders to ensure that peacebuilding interventions addressed the needs of rural women, young women, women living with disabilities, widows and other vulnerable groups.

Ms Salisu assured participants of the ministry’s continued support for initiatives promoting women’s leadership, social inclusion, social cohesion and peaceful communities.

SPRiNG representative in Kaduna, Emmanuel Barau, said United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on WPS remained active in Kaduna.

Mr Barau said SPRiNG was working to operationalise the policy by cascading it to different sectors and localities, with the possibility of developing local action plans.

He said SPRiNG operated across Plateau, Benue, Kaduna and Katsina states, focusing on resilience, justice, peace, security, climate change, agriculture and natural resource management.

Mr Barau said the programme also linked WPS with Youth, Peace and Security, guided by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250.

A traditional institution representative, Tijjani Baba, said women’s involvement had proven valuable in restoring communities affected by conflict.

He recalled an encounter with district heads from several states, where a colleague explained how he rebuilt and reintegrated residents who deserted a conflict-affected community.

Mr Baba said the experience changed the perception of some traditional leaders who previously underestimated their contribution to peace and security.

He urged stakeholders to continue engaging women as advisers and partners, saying their participation could strengthen community intelligence, reconciliation and sustainable peace.

(NAN)