As Ogun State celebrates its 50th anniversary, the ancient town of Ota played host to a thought-provoking Ogun @50 Interactive Dialogue, organised by the Larrybash Movement under the leadership of High Chief Olanrewaju Bashorun.
Held on Monday, February 2, the event—aptly themed “Ogun at 50: Setting a New Agenda for Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency”—attracted political leaders, academics, professionals, youth groups, and community stakeholders determined to use the Golden Jubilee as a moment of reflection, redirection, and renewal.
In his welcome address, High Chief Bashorun charged participants to look beyond festivities and interrogate the deeper questions of governance and inclusion.
He stressed that Ogun at 50 must be a turning point where fairness, equity, and justice replace political imbalance, adding that development without inclusion cannot stand the test of time
Delivering the keynote lecture, Professor Nurudeen Olaleye offered a far-reaching intellectual and policy-driven perspective on the future of Ogun State and the Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency.
Professor Olaleye described Ogun State at 50 as standing “at the crossroads between inherited challenges and future possibilities.” According to him, the next phase of development must be driven by deliberate planning, data-informed governance, and inclusive political structures.
He emphasized that political representation is not symbolic but strategic, noting that communities that feel excluded often disengage from governance, to the detriment of development.
The keynote speaker argued that Ado-Odo/Ota’s economic strength, industrial presence, and demographic advantage demand commensurate political inclusion, adding that rotational representation enhances stability and shared ownership of governance.
“Equity is not a concession,” he noted, “it is a prerequisite for sustainable development and social cohesion.”
The dialogue gained further momentum with contributions from discussants Hon. Leye Odunjo and Hon. Nuru Aina, both of whom openly canvassed support for Ota Zone to produce the next Member of the House of Representatives.
Hon. Odunjo reminded the audience that the federal constituency seat has remained outside Ota for nearly 20 years, describing the situation as politically unhealthy.
He stated that rotation is the soul of fairness and that Ogun at 50 must consciously correct inherited imbalances.
Echoing this view, Hon. Nuru Aina described the clamour for Ota representation as constitutional, peaceful, and just.
According to him, equity strengthens unity and gives every segment of the constituency a stake in governance.
Participants, from youth leaders to professionals and community elders—voiced unanimous support for a new political understanding anchored on fairness, inclusion, and mutual respect.
Many speakers agreed that Ogun’s Golden Jubilee must usher in a new political culture in Ado-Odo/Ota—one that reflects shared sacrifice and shared opportunity.
As the dialogue concluded, one message stood tall: Ogun at 50 must be a bridge to justice, not a monument to imbalance.
The Larrybash Movement reaffirmed its commitment to sustained advocacy, grassroots engagement, and issue-based dialogue, declaring that the future of Ado-Odo/Ota—and Ogun State as a whole—must be built on balance, equity, justice, and fairness.
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