‘Representation should focus on competence, inclusiveness’
A former Ogun State board member, Comrade Adetunji Habeeb, has said conversation about representation should focus on competence, inclusiveness, and the capacity to advance the collective interests of the people.
A former Ogun State board member, Comrade Adetunji Habeeb, has said conversation about representation should focus on competence, inclusiveness, and the capacity to advance the collective interests of the people.
Habeeb made the remark while contributing to ongoing political discussions surrounding representation in Abeokuta North, Obafemi-Owode/Odeda Federal Constituency.
In a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja, the former board member argued that recent claims suggesting that Abeokuta North Local Government Area had been marginalised in the constituency’s representation were not supported by historical facts.
According to him, a review of past representatives of the constituency showed that Abeokuta North had indeed produced lawmakers who served the federal constituency while maintaining ancestral ties with other parts of the constituency.
He cited the example of Hon. Bode Mustapha, who represented the constituency between 1999 and 2003, noting that while he resided in Ita-Oje in Abeokuta North Local Government Area, his ancestral village was Odutolu Olodo in Odeda Local Government Area.
Habeeb also referenced the tenure of Hon. Jelili Amusan, who represented the constituency from 2003 to 2011.
He explained that Amusan’s city residence was located in Ika Ward 7 in Abeokuta North Local Government Area, while his ancestral village was Opeji in Odeda Local Government Area.
Similarly, he noted that Hon. Micky Kazeem, who represented the constituency from 2015 to 2019, lived in Gbagura Ward 6 in Abeokuta North Local Government Area but traced his village roots to Someke in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area.
According to Habeeb, these examples reflect the longstanding cultural and historical pattern among the Egba people where individuals maintain both city and village identities.
He explained that the Egba people, a prominent Yoruba sub-group in present-day Ogun State, are traditionally organised into four major divisions—Ake, Owu, Oke-Ona and Gbagura—each headed by a recognised monarch.
He added that the historic city of Abeokuta was formed around 1830 under the leadership of the Egba warrior, Sodeke, who led the people to settle in the area for strategic protection.
Habeeb further stated that the Egba tradition of maintaining both city residence in Abeokuta and an ancestral village home in surrounding agrarian communities has historically influenced political participation within the Abeokuta North, Obafemi-Owode and Odeda Federal Constituency.
He said the structure explains why many political figures in the constituency maintain connections across multiple local government areas.
The former board member therefore urged political actors and aspirants within the constituency to avoid narratives that could create unnecessary divisions among communities that share common historical and cultural ties.
He stressed that politics within the constituency should be guided by truth, fairness and the pursuit of collective development.
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Habeeb also called on aspirants seeking to represent the constituency to be transparent about their local roots in order to promote credibility and informed decision-making among stakeholders and voters.
According to him, aspirants should clearly indicate both their city local government and their ancestral village local government within the constituency.
He maintained that such openness would help party leaders, stakeholders and members of the electorate better understand the backgrounds of those seeking public office.
Habeeb added that the Egba people have historically thrived through unity, mutual respect and balanced representation across communities within the constituency.
He noted that sustaining that tradition would require political actors to prioritise competence and inclusiveness over divisive narratives.
“As political conversations around the Abeokuta North, Obafemi-Owode and Odeda Federal Constituency continue to gather momentum, aspirants must openly state their true dual ancestral roots for the sake of fairness and transparency,” he said.
He reiterated that political discourse within the constituency should remain focused on identifying individuals with the competence and capacity to advance the collective interests of the people.
