They are miles apart, yet bound by the same ancestry the ancient Old Oyo Empire, that once-great civilization that gave the Yoruba world its crown of culture, courage, and commerce. Today, its descendants in Oke-Ogun and Yewa stand like twin siblings separated by state boundaries, Oke-Ogun in the northwest of Oyo, Yewa in the southwest of Ogun, each carrying the burden of unfulfilled political destiny.
Both regions are the silent powerhouses of their respective states. Their people rise before dawn to till the land, their markets overflow with produce that feed millions, and their border towns with Benin Republic serve as lifelines of trade and regional integration. Yet, when it comes to politics and governance, both Oke-Ogun and Yewa are treated as footnotes in the stories they helped write.For decades, these regions have played the role of the loyal deputy, the reliable second fiddle. The governor’s seat, that ultimate symbol of power, has always eluded them. In Oyo, the Ibadan political bloc continues to dominate; in Ogun, the Egbas and Ijebus maintain their age-long hold on the reins of power. The irony is bitter: the regions that feed the states remain starved of recognition, respect, and representation.
But this story is not just about neglect, it’s also about the wounds inflicted by their own. Time and again, leaders have risen from both regions, men of intellect, charisma, and courage who could have rewritten the narrative. Yet, personal ambition and selfish interests have often turned promise into tragedy.
In Oyo State, Oke-Ogun has produced towering figures whose political journeys were cut short not by external enemies, but by internal divisions. Many recall Chief Michael Koleoso, a disciplined administrator and one of the brightest technocrats from Oke-Ogun, whose vision for equitable development was dimmed by intra-regional rivalries. Others like the late Adedibu (the Alaafin Molete) and the pragmatic Alhaji Yekeen Adeojo once championed the cause of Oke-Ogun representation, but political betrayal and disunity crippled the dream before it could fully bloom.
In Ogun State, the story of Yewa is not different. From the days of Chief Derin Adebiyi to Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, to the tireless efforts of Chief Tolu Odebiyi and others who have carried the torch of Yewa’s political aspiration, the region has repeatedly come close to the seat of power, only to be pushed aside at the last minute often by their own allies who bowed to external pressure or personal gain.
The common thread in both histories is painful but clear: selfishness has been more damaging than opposition. Political differences, ego battles, and short-term calculations have consistently undermined long-term regional progress.
The enemies are not always “them” too often, it is “us.”
Yet, change is in the air again.
The 2027 elections are shaping up as a defining moment for both Oke-Ogun and Yewa. Two figures stand as symbols of renewed hope and determination.
In Ogun, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has emerged as the face of Yewa’s political reawakening. He represents not just ambition, but preparation years of building networks, experience, and political capital across Lagos and Abuja, now being channeled toward his homeland. Yayi’s strides have rekindled the belief that Yewa’s time has come. But the real test is not in his capacity; it lies in the unity of his people. Will Yewa stand with one voice, or will history repeat itself in the familiar tune of internal sabotage?
In Oke-Ogun, the movement is younger, but no less powerful. Beulah Adeoye, lawyer, thinker, and an international personality has become the loudest voice in the call for Oke-Ogun emancipation. He speaks not just of politics, but of economic renewal, cultural pride, and generational leadership. His vision is one where Oke-Ogun is not a periphery of Oyo politics, but a central force shaping the state’s future. Yet, as Adeoye pushes forward, the same question looms: will Oke-Ogun unite behind one of their own, or will the familiar ghost of political betrayal rise again?
The stakes could not be higher. These are not just political battles; they are existential ones. The power dynamics of Oyo and Ogun will not change unless Oke-Ogun and Yewa change their internal mindset, from dependence to defiance, from divided voices to collective will.
Both regions have the numbers. They have the economic muscle. They have the cultural identity and moral right. What they have lacked, for too long, is political cohesion. The old empire that once led must not be content to follow forever. The same spirit that built Oyo Ile — proud, strategic and unbending must rise again in the hearts of Yewa and Oke-Ogun sons and daughters.
If they fail to act now, the price will be another decade of regret, another cycle of political marginalization dressed in empty promises. But if they seize this moment, align their purpose, and place regional interest above personal ambition, history will finally give them what politics has long denied: leadership, dignity, and destiny fulfilled.
The tale of Oke-Ogun and Yewa is, at its core, the tale of Nigeria itself, regions rich in people and potential, yet trapped in the politics of division. Whether that tale ends in triumph or tragedy will depend on the choices they make before the ballot boxes open in 2027.
The empire once stood tall. It can rise again, if its children remember who they are.
Akinwale Atepe writes from Abeokuta.
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