Adeyemi Oladunwo
The year 2026 presents another opportunity for the people of Osun State to decide who governs them.
It is important to acknowledge the fact that Osun State needs a change of direction and a deviation from the path that the Adeleke Government has set it on. It may be hard for a few people to forgive me for this opinion, but it is a truth that we must face if we truly love Osun. I will present three important reasons for a change of direction.
- Governor Adeleke is a good man, no doubt. Governance however requires competence, an attribute he has shown he does not possess. Adeleke’s civil service welfare policies are commendable, but his government has been largely formless, lacking in vision and practical development agenda. Osun is thus dancing on the same spot, paying salaries, building a few roads, but failing to develop its strategic potentials that will secure its place in the future.
- Governor Adeleke is surrounded by a record-breaking population of mediocres who have become liabilities to government, instead of assets. Look at the House of Assembly for example. Look at the Executive Council. Look at the Chairmen of Boards and Parastatals. Look at the long list of Aides to the Governor – SSAs, SAs, and MAs. You see a retinue of grossly incompetent people taking advantage of the Governor’s naivety.
- Governor Adeleke is obsessed with Ede and is unable to deliver fair and equitable governance. Ayedire and Ola-Oluwa Local Governments (combined) for example, have not got up to 15km of road construction. In contrast, the Osun State Government has constructed more than 75km of road in and around Ede town, including over 7km dual carriage road, and two dual carriage roads ongoing, each more than 7km.
Because Osun State needs planned, equitable, and sustainable development, we must look towards a more dispassionate, and competent manager of people and resources, who will harness the human and material resource potentials of our State to build a State that can stand in the comity of developed societies.
In getting an alternative, Osun State will have to look towards the main opposition party, since it is assumed that Governor Adeleke will secure the ticket of the PDP, or any party he chooses to move to, without a contest.
The APC, being the biggest opposition party in Osun State, parades some exciting prospects for the top job in Bola Ige House from 2026. I will do brief reviews of the top 4 contenders, in my opinion, for the APC ticket.
I shall rate them in no particular order.
- Kunle Rasheed Adegoke (SAN)
THE PROS
He is a seasoned Lawyer with a verifiable track record. Those who have interacted personally with him say he comes with vast native intelligence to complement his brilliance. K-RAD as he is fondly called, has his roots running deep into the local communities in Osun, especially his hometown, Osogbo, and he has shown functional knowledge of the nature of Osun.
The decision of Dr. Ajibola Basiru, The National Secretary of the APC, to withdraw from the Governorship race has also boosted his chances in no small measure, as he can now run on the full strength of the Osogbo Agenda.
THE CONS
There are two pressing narratives in the politics of Osun today and those are the clamour for Osun West to continue as Governor, and the clamour for a true Christian Governor, different from Adeleke’s Muslim-in-the-morning, Christian-at-night identity. K-RAD does not satisfy any of the narratives, and this poses a major challenge to his acceptability.
I rate him 6/10.
- ASIWAJU MUNIRUDEEN BOLA OYEBAMIJI
THE PROS
Aside from being a seasoned banker, AMBO, as he is called, comes to the task with up to 10 years of experience in the administration and Governance of Osun State. Given his years of service to both the Aregbesola and Oyetola governments, he is expected to have the deepest understanding of the workings of the Osun State Government.
According to insiders, he is also said to be a very frugal manager of resources, which could help Osun State get a truly accountable government after the profligate four years of the Adeleke administration.
Oyebamiji also satisfies the West Agenda, being from Ikire in Osun West Senatorial District.
A financial expert, frugal manager, and experienced public servant; Oyebamiji is an exciting prospect for Osun State.
THE CONS
The open romance of the AMBO Movement with the former Governor of the State, Alh. Gboyega Oyetola, suggests that victory for AMBO will be Oyetola’s second term by proxy, and many people would rather not have it. Oyetola’s style of politics, as described by insiders, thrives on enemy-picking and malice, thus ostracizing many members of the Party. This breeds fears that an AMBO Government will leave many party members behind the fence, playing the exclusion card that Oyetola is known for.
Oyebamiji is also a Muslim, thus not satisfying the demands, from several critical quarters, for a true Christian Governor.
There are also worries about the kinds of people he has chosen to surround himself with. Many of his supporters are said to be divisive figures within the party, and are known to push destructive agenda against several known figures within the party.
I rate him 6/10.
- OTUNBA IYIOLA OMISORE
THE PROS
Omisore is by far the most experienced, most entrenched politician among all the aspirants. His political experience has spanned decades, and he has indeed earned the ‘Atari Ajanaku’ nickname that his supporters have given him.
A reputable Mechanical Engineer, Omisore presents not just political clout, but professional competence that can help drive real growth in Osun. He also claims to carry the mandate of Ife people, as the voices for their agitation for Governorship loudens.
Iyiola Omisore knows the political landscape, and is expected to be able to match the Adelekes toe for toe with his extensive political structure and deep pocket.
THE CONS
Wherever Omisore goes, controversies follow. His old grudge with a National Leader of the APC who was also his boss when he was Deputy Governor of the State, Oloye Bisi Akande, is a stain on his chances that may refuse to go away.
There is also the question of loyalty. Omisore is believed to be deeply opinionated and unhinged, making him a difficult prospect for the Progressive style of politics and Governance where party elders wield enormous powers. Many APC stakeholders think he will attempt to impose his own structure, his own style, and his own principles, violating the age-long ‘Baba So pe’ style of the Progressives. His loyalty is a big question.
He is a Christian, but he does not satisfy the Osun West agitation.
I rate him 7/10.
- OMOOBA DOTUN BABAYEMI
THE PROS
Dotun Babayemi is a brilliant Lawyer and astute Business man with an enviable track record. While his credentials show that he indeed brings a global perspective to politics and governance, his politics is clearly local, with strong ties to the State’s grassroots.
While many consider him to be green, having not held any political position in the past, he presents strong grassroots support. The first Gubernatorial Aspirant in the State to ever embark on consultation visits to the 332 Wards of the State, Dotun is clearly daring, and willing to build a bottom-up approach to governance, a template that the Progressives have always been known for.
He is a Christian from Gbongan in Osun West Senatorial District, thus satisfying the two strong political agitations in Osun State at the moment. He also has strong relationships across party lines, thus standing a chance to fragment other political parties in favour of the APC.
THE CONS
His lack of experience in political Governance raises the question of whether or not he is ready to govern a State as complex as Osun. His supporters say his shocking haul of over 49,000 votes when he ran for the Senatorial seat of Osun West Senatorial District under a relatively unknown party, the ADP, is proof that he was never green and can find his way around Osun’s complexities.
I rate him 8/10.
A CREATIVE COMBINATION
I fantasize about a Babayemi/Adegoke ticket on the platform of the All Progressives Congress. Both men come with real-life corporate experience, and useful political credentials. Both men have untainted records, and they represent critical constituencies whose interests must be protected going into the election – Christian, Osun West, Osogbo.
Both men are level-headed and should be able to work together to deliver the kind of progressive governance that Osun needs. Both men are the only two of the major contenders who have not entered any altercation with any of the others, thus easing the pathway to unity after the ticket is won and lost.
This fantasy looks very good on paper, and will surely prove good value on election day. I hope APC elders are reading.
Osun will succeed.
Adeyemi Oladunwo writes from Osogbo
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