The political marginalisation of Iwo town, Osun State came to the front burner during the launch of a book by a veteran journalist, Alhaji Liad Tella.

Eminent Osun indigenes, including National Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru; ex-Osun Deputy governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore;, Chairman of Mutual Benefits Assurance, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, noted this during the launch.

The dignitaries who gathered at Riverside Hotel, Iwo, Osun State on Saturday, noted that Iwo town is an ancient town in Yorubaland which should not be neglected with its cultural and wide landscape.

The author of the book, Alh Liad Tella, said “You will learn a lot of lessons from the book if you read it. The advocacy that this book raised will cause light of relevance to shine on Iwo, an ancient town which had long been marginalised.

“The book will further push Iwo town forward from the politically marginalised side to limelight. This gathering today shows that we don’t do politics of bitterness as politicians from all parties are here.”

In the remark, Basiru highlighted the factors responsible for politically marginalisation of communities.

He said “there are four factors that work against development and benefit of any communities or groups. We must prioritise western education and not rely on Arabic class alone. We must work on the economy of our communities to be viable, our politicians must work jointly for the progress of Iwo and external politicians must see to the development of all towns evenly.”

Also, the Chairman of the occasion, the ex-National Secretary of APC, Senator Iyiola Omisore, said “the title of the book has suggested its contents, I urge every politician in Osun State to get a copy of this book.”

Earlier, ex-guber candidate in Osun State, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, co-launcher, said “I can boldly say that Iwo has been marginalised for so long as if it is not part of Osun State in the last 30 years, there is no development that has come to Iwo compared with other communities.

“When you read this book you will weep for us in Iwo. I challenged Alh Liadi Tella to write this book so that people will know what we are facing. In the last 40 years, we have never been governor, deputy governor, Minister, Speaker, Ambassador…Nothing! I want to tell the people of Iwo that power is not shared in a la carte, we must fight for it to earn it.”

The dignitaries present were; Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Sunday Oroniyi, who represented the  of Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke; Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi; ex-SSG, Fatai Akinbade;  Prince Dotun Babayemi;  ex-Commissioners under administration of Adegboyega Oyetola, Yemi Lawal; Folorunso Bamisayemi.

Also, Former National Commissioner of Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), Professor Lai Olurode; General Adelekan Adeniran (rtd); ex-SSG, Kazeem Adio; LT Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, among others.