There comes a time when a people must stop merely counting their votes and start understanding the political value of those votes.
For Owo/Ose, that time is now.
The conversation surrounding the Ondo North Senatorial seat must rise above personalities, party colours, personal ambitions and political rivalry. At its heart, this is a conversation about equity, fairness, strategic representation and the future political bargaining power of our people.
For too long, Owo/Ose has demonstrated its electoral strength. The question we must now ask is simple:
What should that electoral strength produce for us politically?
Nobody is asking anyone to be displaced, humiliated or denied his constitutional right to contest. What Owo/Ose is asking for is legitimate political balance.
Akoko is an important component of Ondo North. Owo and Ose are equally important components. A healthy senatorial district should be built on mutual respect, inclusion and a sense of fairness among its constituent communities.
That is why the growing agitation for Owo to have its turn cannot simply be dismissed as political noise. It deserves serious, honest and mature consideration.
And this is where the emerging Rainbow Coalition becomes significant.
The Rainbow Coalition should not be interpreted as a campaign against Akoko or against any individual. Rather, it represents an opportunity for people across political parties and ideological lines to come together around a common interest.
We may belong to different political parties. We may support different candidates. But there are moments when the long-term interest of our people must come before partisan convenience.
This is one of those moments.
The issue before Owo/Ose is no longer simply:
“Who will we vote for?”
The bigger question is:
“What will our votes achieve?”
Votes are not merely numbers on an election result sheet. When properly organised, they become influence. When strategically deployed, they become bargaining power. And when united around a legitimate cause, they can reshape the political conversation.
Owo/Ose must therefore become united, strategic and purposeful.
We must negotiate from a position of strength, not desperation. We must understand that political power belongs not only to those who hold offices, but also to those who understand the value of their collective electoral strength.
This is not a declaration of war against any community.
It is a declaration that Owo/Ose will no longer take its political relevance for granted.
The time has come to convert numbers into influence, influence into negotiation, and negotiation into meaningful representation.
Our votes must count.
Our voice must be heard.
Our turn must be considered.
This is bigger than one election.
It is about the political future of Owo/Ose.
