*TOMORROW BEGINS TODAY*

*Favour Adéwọyin*

December 5, 2025. 

Tomorrow is not as distant as we often imagine. We speak of it as though it hides somewhere beyond the hills, waiting for years to arrive. Yet, tomorrow is nothing more than today waiting for its turn. And once it comes, it never announces itself as “tomorrow” — it simply becomes today.

This is why the wise never postpone the work of destiny. There is no mystical “tomorrow” on the calendar of progress; there is only today — the day we must unfold with clarity, conviction and responsibility.

My focus in this article is to speak to the politics and politicians of Ọ̀yọ́ State, and by extension, Nigeria. For if we fail to prepare for tomorrow today, we will only lament, regret, and gnash our teeth when the future eventually arrives to demand what we refused to build.

*A Political History That Speaks Volumes:*

Let us briefly examine our political journey. Across 26 years of democratic leadership, Ìbádàn has occupied the governorship seat for 21 years, while Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́, by Providence, has held it for 5 years. This is the truth of our political story — simple, unambiguous, and well-known.

But today, some people attempt to twist this truth into strange narratives. Yes, some part of Ìbádàn are marginalised. However, it nothing, but a perverse political calculation to suggest that “Ìbádàn Central” is the most marginalised in Ọ̀yọ́ State. The question is: how can people conveniently divide Ìbádàn when it suits their argument, only to merge it back when the storyline no longer favours them?

Yorùbá wisdom captures this kind of political manipulation well when it says: “Tani ò m'ọgbọ́n ọn ká f’ẹran s’ẹ́nu ká wa tì?” — meaning, who does not know how meat disappears in the mouth of someone who is pretending to share it fairly?

And again, another suitable proverb will say: “Ẹni tí ó j’ogún-k’ógún yó pàtàn-kítàn.” — meaning, be who covets inheritance that is not his will go to any length to distort history.

As a people, such distortions do not prepare us for the future. They can only expose our unwillingness to build a fair and forward-looking system befitting a Pace Setter State who is seeking for an egalitarian society where every individual enjoys equal rights, equal dignity, and equal access to opportunities, without discrimination or structural privilege for any group.

*Understanding Our Anthem: Aṣíwájú ni wá:*

We love to sing that: “Aṣíwájú ni wá… Aṣíwájú ni wá.” — meaning, we are the pacesetters; we lead. But do our actions reflect leadership when other states — Lagos, Ògùn, Ọ̀ṣun, Oǹdó, Èkìtì, Edo, Delta, Kogi, Kwara — have embraced rotational governorship without drama? Why then is Ọ̀yọ́ State, the supposed Pace Setter State, struggling with basic political fairness? Why did we wait this long before demanding a fair rotation of the governorship, and why is it now so difficult to embrace the very principle of equity that once elevated Ìbàdàn under the rallying cry of “ọmọ wa ni, ẹ jẹ́ ó ṣe é” — the same spirit of justice we are now asking to be honoured for others?

For too long, we have justified imbalance with demographic arguments like:

i. “Ibadan has a larger population”. 

ii. “Ibadan has more votes”. 

iii. “Ibadan has political dominance”. 

But population is not a license for marginalisation. No citizen was created by God to be second-class citizen. No region was designed by destiny to be perpetually silenced.

*Lessons from the Songs of History:*

An old song by Èlẹ́mọ̀ṣọ́, drawn from the wisdom of “Chief Lere Paimo, MFR, a renowned, veteran, and seasoned dramatist of international stature, echoes a warning. Some of us will recall the classic stage drama “Ògbórí Èlẹ́mọ̀ṣọ́,” immortalised by the unforgettable song that echoed through its performance:

> Ẹ̀lẹ̀mọṣọ́, Ẹ́lẹmọ̀ṣọ́! O b'ayé jẹ́, o f'ọ̀rún ṣè jẹ́.

Meaning: Ẹ̀lẹ̀mọṣọ́, Ẹ́lẹmọ̀ṣọ́! You have troubled the earth and provoked the heavens.

> Ayé pọ́n ẹ pé ẹran bí Erin ò sí n'ígbó o, wọn l'Ẹ́yẹ bí Ọ̀kín ò sí l'ọ́dan.

Meaning: The world has pampered you to believe that there is no animal as mighty as the elephant in the forest, nor any bird as splendid as the peacock in the savannah.

> Ìwọ wá ti gbàgbé wí pé ọjọ́ ọjọ́ kan ń bẹ t'Ífá ọ́ p'Ẹran, t'Ọ́pẹ̀lẹ̀ ọ́ p'Ẹran, t'Íyàwó ò l'ọta tí ò ní jẹ níbẹ̀...

Meaning: And now you have forgotten that a day is coming Ifá kill a game, and Ọ̀pẹ̀lẹ̀ will kill a game; and, the wife will grind pepper, but won't eat from the soup…

The message from this ancient song is simple, but profound. It means: power must never intoxicate anyone to the point where he forgets that everyone — big or small — has a day appointed by destiny.

Remember Goliath who strutted into battle intoxicated with strength. Yet the God of David overturned him with a sling and a stone. Today and forever, the God of justice, equity, fairness and liberation still sits and will continue to sit on the throne — unchallenged, unthreatened and eternal.

This God does not smile at injustice. He does not bless inequity. He does not endorse exclusion. He always frown at marginalisation and will never bless oppression. The same God who delivered tiny Israel from mighty Egypt after 430 years is still alive — and fully capable of humbling any oppressive structure that refuses to reform.

*What Future Are We Building?*

As we venture about in our advocacy, we hear the following dismissive political clichés: 

i. “Power is not served a la carte”. 

ii. “Does Òkèògùn even have competent people?”. 

iii. “Does anyone in Òkèògùn people have money to contest?”. 

iv. "We accept you have been marginalised, but you should go and wait because it is not yet their turn.”

Such statements as we have above do not reveal insight and foresight. They only show we are not preparing for tomorrow and they betray the very essence of calling ourselves Pace Setter or Aṣíwájú. 

*Ibadan Needs a State:*

Furthermore, let us speak truth. Ìbádàn is large enough — economically, demographically and historically — to be a state of its own. 

Ìbádàn State is long overdue. Kaduna State was originally created as North-Central State on 27 May 1967 and later renamed Kaduna State on 3 February 1976. Enugu State was created on 27 August 1991. Why has Ìbádàn not been accorded the same status despite its size and significance?

Without much ado, state creation will solve the imbalance, ease political tension, and allow every region to breathe, grow, and thrive. Little wonder that, during his coronation, the Ọ̀lúbàdàn of Ìbádàn land, His Imperial Majesty, Ọba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, demanded for Ìbádàn State with a definite date for actualisation. That request showed that the monarch understood (and still understands) Ọ̀yọ̀ State and how the people feel. We pray the President will look into this matter and respond positively sooner than we can imagine. 

If the government will embark on state creation, the process must be driven foremost by fairness, justice, equity, equality, and genuine inclusivity — principles that ensure every community is heard, valued, and treated with uncompromising integrity.

*A Call to Build a Just Tomorrow — Today:*

Tomorrow does not begin when the rooster crows.

Tomorrow begins today — in the decisions we make, the policies we design, and the fairness we are willing to institutionalise.

As we pray and plan for a brighter future in Òyọ́ State, our leaders must boldly weave fairness, justice, equity, equality and inclusivity into our governance structure. These values must appear in our policies, our gazettes, our political agreements, and our everyday conduct. 

Doing this will fulfill section 14 subsection 3 and 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which I can summarise to have said: 

i. Section 14(3) requires the Federal Government to reflect Nigeria’s diversity so no tribe or region is excluded or dominated.

ii. Section 14(4) applies the same rule to states and local governments, ensuring fair representation and preventing marginalisation.

*Final Words:*

The future is not waiting for us. It is already here.

And what we refuse to do today will rise tomorrow as our shame — or our glory.

In the end, may our testimony reads that: it is wisdom that guides us today in anticipation of tomorrow.

*Pst. Favour Adéwọyin,* 

National Secretary, Ẹgbẹ́ Àjọṣepọ̀ Fún Ìtẹsiwájú Gbogbo Wa.