The political temperature in Oyo state is rising. Ambitions are unfolding everyday and alignments of all forms and shapes are lunched, blown above the proportionality of normalcy on the media, stacking the faces of citizens at every given opportunity. Now is the best time to evaluate the contents of leadership baggage carried by all inspiring gladiators. Oyo people are a very intelligent people, civil, politically savvy and sophisticated. Governorship in Oyo is not a seat to be occupied by chance, surface window-dressing or political gambling. It is an adventure that requires a well thought-of journey in service, responsibility, cross-zonal, longtime human relations, capacity building and deep-rooted communalism in people and their interests. Oyo has seen and witnessed enough of dividends on social media, our people want to see development. They want to see a system that works. Well-structured health, educational and developmental agenda that they can see, feel, touch, measure and evaluate. Oyo state of 2027 requires urgently, a leader with calm and candour, with sophisticated intellectual capacity, precision judgement ability and the temperament that can remain stoic, calm and cool even in the face of spontaneous political turbulence, the one which Oyo politics is known for. Now is the time to engage a leader that is firm and focused only on solution, no matter the storm.
History is filled with moments when calm leadership reshaped the course of events. During the height of the Roman Empire, for example, Emperor Marcus Aurelius, often remembered as the philosopher-king, governed amid wars, plagues, and political turmoil. Yet his strength came not from spectacle or aggression but from a Stoic discipline that allowed him to lead with measured judgment and razor-sharp precision. While rivals wielded power through intimidation, Aurelius’s composure enabled him to maintain unity and focus, proving that the most enduring power often lies in a leader’s ability to remain centered when the world around them is storming.
One sunny afternoon in 2022, when the cacophony of the phantom impeachment was at its loudest, some concerned youths who could not swallow the injustice and political idiocy came to the then Deputy Governor. Worried, sweating and totally disturbed, their leader rose and said a brief prayer, then he proceeded to say “Esselensi, a ti gbo wipe housi maa joko laaro kutu ola. Eefin pelu eruku maa so ni housi ki ile ola o to mo”, then he moved towards the exit door. Engr. Olaniyan, in his usual philosophical self, told them to remain on their seats. He thanked them for their concern and he said two things that I can never forget. He said firstly, Only Allah gives power and only He can take it if He so wishes. Secondly, he said, my political ambition and power pursuit is not worth the blood of any Oyo citizen. He then said further, he would only approve of the idea to set the House of Assembly on flame, only if his sons were mobilized to lead such a violent raid. He told them in clear terms that he was not desperate to earn or have power. His desire and mission around politics is for service and impact. Immediately the House of Assembly concluded their hacket job, he returned every property of Government in his possession and he instructed all his aides to do same without any fuss. Olaniyan did not go on exile. While many of his followers and all people of conscience were lamenting, he continued his life the following morning as if nothing had happened. He never stopped his philanthropic activities. He did not close relationship doors with bile. He held his shoulders high, attending public functions and he held firmly to God, fate and the future. Like a prophet of his time, everything that he stood to caution then, had come to pass and the people of Oyo have now seen better.
Calm and composure in leadership have long been marks of true strength rather than signs of passivity. When a leader remains steady in the face of conflict or uncertainty, they project confidence that reassures others and creates space for rational decision-making. Composure allows solutions to surface where panic would have clouded judgment. This kind of inner steadiness is a power in itself, one that influences people not through force, but through clarity, presence and trust. This is the political entity called Olaniyan and the foundation upon which his leadership and political ideologies are placed.
So, away from media coloration, cosmetic aggrandisement and mask-wearing smiles and laughter, Oyo needs a bridge builder, a unifier, a leader with a listening ear. A leader with empathy and human feeling. We need a leader who possesses tactical capacity, professional experience, philosophical balance and humanity-centered acumen, to drive the Oyo state of our dream come 2027 and we are positive that the good people of Oyo shall oblige him with the privilege to serve at this crucial stage of our history and political evolution.
Adesola Yaqub (TÁSOÓLÓ) is a graduate of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG) and can be reached via sholayaq@gmail.com