‎A prominent Ibadan political stakeholder, Hon. Mojeed Akintunde, on Wednesday issued a strong warning against the emergence of “political tourists” in the Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West Federal Constituency as the 2027 general elections approach.
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‎Akintunde declared that the constituency must be represented by a genuine Ibadan indigene, stressing that the city’s political space should not be conceded to outsiders lacking deep generational roots in Ibadan.
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‎He specifically cautioned against the ambition of Rotimi Ajanaku, a non-indigene, describing any move to impose him on the federal constituency as unacceptable and contrary to the collective will of the Ibadan people.
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‎Drawing a parallel with the historic 1983 general elections, Akintunde recalled how Ibadan people united behind Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo to assert their dignity and political identity when it was challenged. He said that singular event remains a timeless lesson that Ibadan would always rise to defend its right to produce its own leaders.
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‎The stakeholder noted that the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) has consistently maintained that elective positions in Ibadan should be reserved for indigenes, describing the position as a legitimate act of self-preservation rather than exclusion.
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‎”Ibadan is blessed with qualified, competent, committed, educated, and culturally rooted sons and daughters who are deeply connected to the aspirations of our people and are ready and willing to serve,” Akintunde emphasised.
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‎He argued that leadership goes beyond paper qualifications. “It is about connection, identity, trust, and accountability. A representative must understand our traditions, feel the pulse of our communities, and remain answerable to the people long after elections.”
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‎Akintunde warned that allowing individuals like Rotimi Ajanaku, who lack organic ties to Ibadan, to emerge would undermine the cultural and political heritage of the city and amount to a needless outsourcing of its mandate.
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‎He dismissed accusations that the demand for indigenous representation equates to tribalism, describing it instead as responsible political stewardship and a commitment to preserving Ibadan’s identity.
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‎”This is not about rejecting others; it is about affirming ourselves and ensuring that those who speak for us truly belong to us.”
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‎Akintunde urged all political stakeholders, party leaders, and Ibadan indigenes to rise to the occasion and ensure that decisions at party and community levels reflect the collective interest and dignity of the Ibadan people.
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