A security meeting, held in Iresa-Adu town hall, Surulere LGA, Oyo State, recieved high profile delegation of Senator Ayoade Adeseun popularly known as ‘Baba Solar’, raising hopes for the residents of the embattled town that the emergence of the APC at the Oyo gubernatorial election may finally resolve the Oba Aresa-Adu of Iresa-Adu 10 years vacancy, which remained unresolved in Governor Makinde administration despite high profile appeals and community protests.
Senator Adeseun who recently resigned as the Mayegun of Ogbomoso, owns a large residence in Iresa-Adu. Senator Adeseun’s residence is renowned for hosting high profile political meetings, guests. The Oyo Gubernatorial ambition of Senator Sharafadeen Alli was also kick-started at Senator Ayoade Adeseun’s residence.
Despite being located in Ogbomoso Zone, Senator Adeseun residence in Iresa-Adu is in Oyo Central Senatorial district, while the Ogbomoso town itself where the Soun of Ogbomoso is the paramount ruler belongs in the Oyo North Senatorial District. Again, while Iresa-Adu is in the Ogooluwa/Surulere Federal Constituency, Ogbomoso town belongs to the Oriire/Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South Federal Constituency. Hence, Senator Ayoade Adeseun’s power, influence and leverage in Ogbomoso Zone remain politically strong with or without the Soun of Ogbomoso’s Mayegun title. Which is why Senator Ayoade Adeseun could discard the title so easily.
Former 3-terms APC Federal Representative of Ogooluwa-Surulere Constituency, Hon. Odebunmi (BUVIC) recently realigned with the powerful Senator and emerged again in the APC primaries to run for the 4th term against the incumbent Hon. Makanjuola (SMATO) of the APM.
The security meeting in Iresa-Adu became important as a result of recent kidnappings in Oriire LGA in the same Ogbomoso Zone as Iresa-Adu, Surulere LGA. The security meeting which held at the Iresa-Adu town hall, was announced on several media platforms including radio, and stakeholders of the community were all invited.
The presence of Senator Ayoade Adeseun’s delegation led by Mr Isaac Obaremi, General Secretary to Senator Ayoade Adeseun, in the security meeting restores Iresa-Adu residents faith that their appeal, protests and public outcry ignored by Governor Makinde is at least heard and acted upon by their own Senator Adeseun.
Pa Oyedokun, an elder in a nearby village under Iresa-Adu said, “look around Iresa-Adu, we voted Governor Makinde overwhelmingly both in 2019 and 2023. The last time the Governor visited Iresa-Adu town was in his 2023 campaign. The only thing this community has requested from Governor Makinde administration is an Oba, we are in the 8th year of his administration and we feel completely ignored”
A Prince from one of the Ruling Houses at the security meeting said, “Governor Makinde should use his executive powers and give us a new king. Oba Jimoh Oloyede from Oshunbiyi Ruling House passed away in 2018 and till now we have no king. They are just playing politics with Aresa-Adu throne. We appeal to the Governor to intervene immediately”.
APM party youth member who asked to remain anonymous said, “most of the vibrant youths that worked for the PDP in the 2023 election, to end the 12years reign of APC Hon. Odebunmi (Bunvic) as Federal Representative in 2023 election, have now moved to join APC. They are all in Senator Adeseun’s APC camp. For the APM party to retain Ogooluwa-Surulere looks increasingly shaky. Iresa-Adu is the largest town in the Constituency, both the youths and elders feel unheard and ignored by the current administration. Iresa-Adu is an ancient town that take pride in their historical heritage, projects like water borehole and filling road potholes is not the same as installing Oba Aresa-Adu. If we do not have a king, at least we have a political Godfather in the name of Senator Adeseun. The failure by Governor Makinde to install Aresa-Adu is a free pass for APC”.
