OBA OLUGBENLE LEADS STRATEGIC ROYAL ENGAGEMENT WITH AWORI OBAS FORUM ON OGUN WEST AGENDA

In what is widely regarded as a defining royal intervention in the political evolution of Ogun West, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, the Olu Ilaro, Paramount Ruler of Yewaland and Chairman of the Ogun State Council of Obas, on Friday, 20th February 2026, led a high-powered delegation of Yewa Obas to a strategic engagement with the Awori Obas Forum.
The high-level meeting, held at the Palace of the Olota of Ota and hosted by Oba Abdulkadir Adeyemi Obalanlege, focused squarely on deliberations surrounding the 2027 governorship election and the broader Ogun West Agenda.
A Strategic Consolidation of Unity
The closed-door engagement was a follow-up to the recent visit of the Olota of Ota to the Palace of the Olu Ilaro — a symbolic and historic exchange that signaled a renewed era of cooperation between the Yewa and Awori blocs.
What unfolded at the palace was not a ceremonial gathering, but a carefully structured consultation aimed at strengthening internal cohesion within Ogun West.
Royal fathers of Yewa–Awori extraction convened in a powerful demonstration of unity, collective purpose, and shared determination to reposition the district ahead of the 2027 election.
A Clear Resolution for 2027
At the heart of the deliberations was a firm commitment to ensure that the interests of the majority of the good people of Ogun West — and indeed Ogun State — are adequately represented in the next political dispensation.
The monarchs resolved to:
Support the emergence of the most capable, credible, trusted, and widely acceptable candidate from Ogun West.
Encourage political parties to consider competence and broad acceptability in their selection process.
Avoid the internal fragmentation and crowded candidacies that have historically weakened the district’s aspiration.
In one accord, the royal fathers agreed to rally their people toward supporting a single consensus candidate in 2027, irrespective of party affiliation, while respecting the interests and dignity of other aspirants.
This consensus-driven approach marks a significant departure from previous election cycles where divided ambitions diluted the district’s collective strength.
Reinforcing the Ogun West Agenda
Since the creation of Ogun State in 1976, Ogun West has yet to produce a governor. The 2027 election is therefore seen by many as a historic opportunity anchored on the principles of equity, fairness, and power rotation.
Through this engagement, the traditional institution has reaffirmed that it will not remain a passive observer in matters affecting the destiny of its people. Instead, the monarchs are leveraging:
Their moral authority
The trust reposed in them by their communities
Their influence across the five Local Government Areas of Ogun West
to provide direction and guidance toward the realisation of this long-standing aspiration.
While the finer details of the deliberations remain confidential, the message that emerged from the meeting was unmistakable: Ogun West must move forward with unity, strategy, and discipline.
Leadership with Vision
Under the leadership of Oba Olugbenle, the Ogun West movement has gained renewed clarity, structure, and purpose. His Majesty remains unwavering in his commitment to the actualisation of this age-old regional dream.
Kabiyesi has once again demonstrated that traditional leadership, when guided by foresight and collective interest, can shape the course of political history without compromising neutrality or dignity.
The strategic royal engagement between Yewa and Awori monarchs may well be remembered as the moment aspiration evolved into coordinated action.
The meeting was robust.
The atmosphere was purposeful.
The resolve was unanimous.
And the agenda is clear — Ogun West, 2027.