The Coalition of Osogbo Indigenous Groups has called on political parties in Osun State to field an indigene of Osogbo as the next governor of the state.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Thursday, the Coordinator of the Osogbo Development Action Group, Omosola Olabode, who spoke on behalf of the coalition, said the state capital had shown great patience for 35 years without producing a governor since the creation of Osun in 1991.
The coalition noted that despite being the capital and economic hub of the state, Osogbo had never produced a governor since Osun’s creation in 1991.
The group explained that the historical significance of Osogbo in the socio-political landscape of Osun State made it deserving of the governorship position in 2026, 35 years after the state’s creation.
According to the coalition, Osogbo represents the spiritual and cultural identity of the state, as the name “Osun” is derived from a Yoruba deity domiciled in the town.
It further identified population strength, economic relevance, and political participation as major reasons Osogbo should produce the next governor.
The group added that Osogbo remains the most populated city in Osun and serves as the commercial hub where more than 65 per cent of the state’s daily economic activities take place.
The coalition also lamented the absence of major federal presence in the capital, stating that Osogbo is the only state capital in Nigeria without a federal higher institution, ministerial appointment, or ambassadorial representation.
It stressed that the rapid growth of the city required a leader who understood its unique developmental challenges, noting that data ranked Osogbo as the fifth fastest-growing city in southwestern Nigeria. It added that an Osogbo-born governor would be better positioned to manage its growth and infrastructural needs.
The group urged all political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), and African Democratic Congress (ADC), to field Osogbo indigenes in their forthcoming primaries, adding that any political party that presents an Osogbo indigene as its candidate in the 2026 election would receive overwhelming support and votes from the people of Osogbo.
Also speaking, the Coordinator of the Osogbo Progressive Youth Movement, Salam Maroof, stated that the demand for an Osogbo-born governor was not based on sentiment but on justice, equity, and recognition of the city’s contributions to the growth and development of Osun State.
The statement was jointly endorsed by: Osogbo Development Action Group (ODAG), Osogbo Progressive Youth Movement (OPYM),Osogbo Peace and Unity Advocacy (OPUA),Osogbo Affairs Forum (OSAF), The Great Osogbo Daughters, Ààrè Ò Pétà Movement, Osogbo National Students Union (ONSU)