A must Read ; THE RACE FOR OYO’s HEART, DISCIPLINE OVER DESPERATION. By Adekemi Opatunde

_“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”_ – William Shakespeare, _Henry IV, Part 2_

A race has begun in Oyo State. Not a sprint for the entitled, but a solemn march to reshape the heart of our state. Only one person can win it: the next Governor.

*Why am I writing?*

Lately, many platforms have turned into war grounds. Unprintable content is deployed against fellow party men and women. Out of anger, names of highly respected national figures are dragged into the mud. This is happening at a time when women are still appealing for even a few slots, yet our cry does not appear to be fetching us anything close to affirmative action. So there is need for solemn reflection. We must build Oyo State, not destroy it.

The office of Governor is dignifying, desirable, but not for everyone.

Under late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo witnessed peace and unprecedented growth. Today, the good of the land must outweigh personal ambition. Yet too many pursue the seat with a do-or-die sense of entitlement. Where do we draw the line?

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has backed full local government autonomy, yet governors still pocket their councils and chairmen. That is not democracy.

Our gravest pain is insecurity. Farmlands and highways have become shallow graves of the innocent. Yet some governors who collect security votes blame Abuja, claiming security is exclusively federal. If so, why take the votes?

What troubles me most is desperation without preparation. Too many gladiators jostle for 2027 without capacity for the task.

Let it be clear: no one owns “party structure.” It is our collective heritage — from Action Group to AD, ACN, and now APC. It belongs to history and to all of us.

Many also ignore the God factor. They scheme as if they, not God, crown kings. He lifts and He casts down.

The ugliest trait is the destroyer syndrome: men built by the party rise from Assembly to Reps to Senate to Minister, and some one-time Governor but aiming for more juicy posts. If denied a ticket, they tear down the structure that made them, dragging followers into selfish ambition. Such followers are unwise.

So I ask: who will deliver Oyo’s soul from those dragging her into a furnace for personal gain?

I see great opportunities ahead. But God owns power. Like mothers who withhold a child’s request until the right season, some blessings must wait. Those who say “if I can’t have it, no one will” should never lead.

APC Oyo State stands for discipline, unity, and loyalty. We will not allow any wing of this party to become an instrument of disintegration.

_“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”_ – Shakespeare, _As You Like It_

This is not your stage alone. Oyo is watching. History is recording. God is enthroning.