*“`Why Ife Should Support Senator Fadahunsi and Return Otunba Taofeeq Ajilesoro* “`
By: *Amb. Salam Mustapha Asmof*
At this critical moment in the political history of Ife Federal Constituency and the wider Osun East Senatorial District, the people of Ife must look beyond emotions, party sentiments and the attraction of new faces. We must ask ourselves a simple but fundamental question: What political decision will give Ife the strongest voice, better representation and greater access to national opportunities?
The National Assembly Politics is not only about who is new, popular or ambitious. It’s also about experience, seniority, relationships, influence and the ability to convert political capital into development for the people.
The National Assembly is an institution where experience matters. A legislator who has spent several years in Abuja understands the system better, has built relationships with ministries, agencies, committees and fellow lawmakers, and is better positioned to pursue projects and opportunities for his constituency.
This is why Ife must carefully consider the importance of continuity.
Otunba Taofeeq Ajilesoro has already established himself in the House of Representatives. The official National Assembly profile confirms that he represents Ife Central/East/North/South Federal Constituency. His continued presence means Ife is not starting from zero. Instead, the constituency can build on existing experience, relationships and institutional knowledge.
The same strategic argument applies to the Senate.
Senator Francis Fadahunsi currently represents Osun East Senatorial District, the district commonly referred to as the Ife/Ijesha Senatorial District. He has already spent considerable time in the Senate and has secured the APC ticket for another term in the 2027 election.
For Ife, the question should therefore be: Do we want to strengthen our position within an existing political structure, or do we want to begin the process all over again with another newcomer who may need several years to build the same level of influence?
That is the real conversation.
THE ISSUE OF IFE–IJESHA ROTATION
There has been a longstanding political argument around fairness and rotation within the Ife/Ijesha Senatorial District. It is important, however, to distinguish between a political understanding and a legally binding rule. There is no evidence that Nigerian law constitutionally reserves the Osun East Senate seat for Ife or Ijesha in fixed alternating terms.
But politics is also about equity, understanding and mutual accommodation.
Indeed, in 2026, political voices in Ife have publicly argued that the principle of equity should allow Ife to produce the next Senator for Osun East.
That argument deserves attention.
However, Ife must also understand that political rotation should not become an excuse to sacrifice the immediate interests of the constituency.
If the objective is to secure stronger representation, continuity and influence in Abuja, then the people must consider which combination of representatives can best serve that objective at this particular time.
WHY SENIORITY MATTERS
A new legislator may be energetic, intelligent and patriotic, but there is a difference between potential and accumulated political capital.
A returning legislator has an opportunity to move from simply learning the system to influencing the system.
This is particularly important in the National Assembly, where committee positions, legislative experience, relationships with federal institutions and familiarity with parliamentary procedures can determine how effectively a representative can pursue constituency interests.
Therefore, Ife should not automatically assume that a new face means better representation.
Sometimes, continuity is the bridge between previous efforts and future development.
IFE SHOULD NOT START FROM SCRATCH
This is the central message.
Ife has spent years participating in national politics and building representation. We should not throw away political capital simply because someone else is presenting himself as a fresh alternative.
If we replace experienced representation with a completely new entrant, that person may spend the early part of his tenure learning the political environment, building relationships and establishing himself within the National Assembly.
By the time that foundation is properly built, several years may already have passed.
Ife deserves representatives who can hit the ground running.
That is why the return of Otunba Taofeeq Ajilesoro to the House of Representatives should be viewed from the perspective of continuity, while Senator Fadahunsi’s continued presence in the Senate should be considered from the perspective of experience and institutional strength.
THE BIGGER QUESTION FOR IFE
This is not about whether Ijesha is better than Ife.
It is not about whether Ife is better than Ijesha.
It is about whether the two parts of Osun East can develop a political strategy that protects the interests of the entire district.
The Ife/Ijesha relationship should be based on mutual respect, fairness and strategic cooperation.
If tomorrow the political understanding demands that another zone takes its turn, that conversation should be held openly and honestly among the stakeholders.
But today, Ife must ask itself:
What gives us the strongest negotiating power?
What gives us the most experienced representation?
What prevents us from continually starting from scratch?
What gives our people the best opportunity to benefit from federal presence and national institutions?
These are the questions that should guide our decision.
IFE MUST THINK BEYOND 2027
Our politics must graduate from the politics of personalities to the politics of strategy.
We must stop asking only, “Who is from my town?”
We should also ask, “Who can effectively represent our interests?”
We must stop asking only, “Who is a new face?”
We should ask, “Who already understands the system and can deliver from day one?”
And we must stop treating every election as an opportunity to start afresh.
Sometimes, the wisest political decision is to consolidate what we already have while preparing strategically for the future.
Therefore, my position is simple:
Ife should return Otunba Taofeeq Ajilesoro to the House of Representatives and carefully consider supporting Senator Francis Fadahunsi for the Senate, not because Ife has surrendered its right to aspire to the Senate, but because strategic politics requires knowing when to consolidate, when to negotiate and when to prepare for the next opportunity.
The Senate seat will continue to generate legitimate conversations about equity and rotation between Ife and Ijesha. That conversation should not disappear.
But let us not allow the argument over tomorrow to make us sacrifice the strength we can build today.
Ife must decide whether it wants continuity, experience and stronger national influence—or whether it wants to start all over again.
The choice belongs to the people.
And whatever choice we make, let it be a choice based on development, competence, equity, experience and the long-term political interest of Ife.
Ife must think.
Ife must negotiate.
Ife must unite.
And above all, Ife must choose strategically.
