FRONTLINE candidates in Saturday’s governorship election in Osun, yesterday, talked tough about their chances of winning the poll and unveiled what they would do for the state, if elected. Speaking separately at Arise Townhall Meeting in Osogbo, the candidates, including Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord; Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji of All Progressives Congress, APC; Dr Najeem Salaam of African Democratic Congress, ADC; and Olajide Esan of African Action Congress, AAC, said they would win if the poll was free and fair.
The town hall meeting had seasoned media professionals such as Dr Rueben Abati, Dr Lasisi Olagunju, Dr Festus Adedayo and Adesuwa Omoruan on the panel.
I’m a bulldozer, not afraid of federal power, govs backing APC candidate — Adeleke
Governor Adeleke, who was the first to speak, declared that he was not intimidated by the support of the Federal Government and some APC governors for Oyebamiji.
He described himself as a “bulldozer,” saying he was prepared to face ‘federal might’ and the influence of governors backing his opponent.
“I am a bulldozer. I am talk and do. I am not afraid of federal might and governors backing the APC candidate. If they like, they should bring all the governors,” Adeleke said.
He said the governors were his friends and expressed confidence that their presence in Osun would not determine the outcome of the election.
“Those governors are my friends. I am a civilised administrator. They won’t vote; they can only come and dance, and after the election, we will meet,” he said. Adeleke also rejected allegations that his administration had militarised Osun State, saying he lacked the authority to deploy the armed forces.
“I did not militarise Osun. I have no such capacity. I am not the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,” he said.
He expressed confidence in his re-election, saying the achievements of his administration in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and agriculture among others would speak for him at the polls.
The governor said his administration had constructed about 350 kilometres of roads, with another 160 kilometres under construction, adding that several roads abandoned for decades had also been completed.
He said: “I promised my people of Osun State that I would govern with the fear of God and bring home what is called the dividends of democracy. Our work speaks for itself.
“A lot of people have come down to Osun State, especially the state capital, and they missed their way because of the transformation we have accomplished.”
Adeleke also highlighted his administration’s intervention in healthcare, saying about 200 health centres had been rehabilitated and equipped with beds, solar lights and other facilities.
“When I came in, I went around all our health centres. I said this is not acceptable. As of today, we have fixed about 200 healthcare centres. We put poles, solar lights, beds and everything is looking so beautiful,” he said.
On agriculture, the governor said his administration had purchased 31 tractors and provided seedlings and other inputs to farmers to boost agricultural production.
He dismissed allegations by the APC, that some roads constructed by his administration were substandard, describing the criticism as propaganda.
The governor also defended his public dancing, which has been criticised by his opponents, saying it had no bearing on his performance.
“I am a very prudent person and a very serious person. Nobody will stop me from dancing. As I am dancing, I am working. Dancing is a hobby that doesn’t disturb or affect my work.
“Go and fact-check it. You will know how much I’ve done,” he said.
On security, Adeleke said his administration had recruited and trained more than 1,500 personnel for the Amotekun security outfit, adding that they were trained by retired military and police officers and deployed to their respective local government areas.
He also denied ordering the alleged militarisation of the state ahead of the election.
“I did not militarise. I don’t have that capacity. I am not the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Mr President is the Commander-in-Chief,” he said.
Adeleke urged voters to remain peaceful and protect their votes, saying
“I am always preaching free and fair elections because I know what is called democracy. It is the people. It is the Osun people that will decide.”
“My people, this election is going to be a free and fair election. No violence. When you vote, stay and make sure your vote is counted. Follow your vote from the unit to the collation centre.”
On state police, Adeleke said he supported the initiative and would ensure it operated within the law.
“I believe in state police. When I was in the Senate, I was the one that introduced State Policing. If it is my son that committed an offence, he will go and face the law.
“I am not going to bend for anybody. I believe in the rule of law,” he said.
The governor, who also rejected allegations of Edenisation or concentrating developments in his hometown, Ede, saying the proposed airport was located there after experts assessed possible sites.
“It’s not my fault that my town got blessed with lands. I invited all the experts to go and look for land where they can site the airport. They went around and ended up in Ede,” he said.
Asked if he would congratulate the winner if he lost the election, Adeleke said: “Forget about it. I’m not going to lose this election because I’m so confident.”
APC’s Oyebamiji downplays ‘federal might’, vows to banish poverty
However, Oyebamiji of the APC dismissed allegations that the federal government planned to deploy its influence to secure victory for him at the election.
He said his priority, if elected, would be the welfare and development of residents across the state, irrespective of their location.
“Governance is about people, it’s not about segments. It’s not about an area. It’s not about a city. It is not about a town. It’s the entirety of the state,” he said.
Oyebamiji said his administration would prioritise security and the welfare of residents, while also seeking to address hunger and poverty through investments in agriculture, education and healthcare.
“We want to banish hunger and poverty. I want to invest seriously in agriculture, education, and health,” he said.
He added that his administration would also focus on human capital development and improve the welfare of residents.
Reacting to Governor Adeleke’s allegation that the Federal Government was planning to deploy “federal might” to influence the election, Oyebamiji said he had not encountered evidence supporting the claim during his campaign across the state.
“I actually listened to Mr. Governor and I can see that most of the answers to that question were not true. I have visited 30 local government areas in Osun State three times. Nobody has ever heard that,” he said.
Oyebamiji said his consultations with party members, community leaders, artisans, lawyers, traders and civil servants had convinced him that residents were seeking a change of government.
He said he also inaugurated canvassers across the state as part of efforts to mobilise support for his candidacy.
“I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that our people in Osun are ready for a change. I’m coming here as the incoming governor of Osun, come August 15, 2026,” he said.
Oyetola left N15bn, Adeleke’s claims are misleading
Oyebamiji challenged Adeleke to state how his administration had spent about N650 billion federal allocation since he became governor, in addition to the N15billion he inherited from the immediate past administration of Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
According to Oyebamiji, in 12 years of APC, under former Governors Aregbesola and Oyetola, Osun got only N450 billion. In three and a half years of Adeleke, they have collected N650 billion.
“How does N650 billion match what we see in Osun today? Worse still, as of today in Osun, 97 per cent of those resources go to just two local governments. That is an aberration; actually, it is criminal? He queried.
Oyebamiji maintained that the immediate past administration, led by Governor Gboyega Oyetola, left about N15 billion for the incoming administration, contrary to what he described as misleading claims being circulated by Adeleke’s government.
He urged the people of Osun State not to be swayed by what he described as political narratives designed to create the impression that the current administration inherited an empty treasury.
Salaam vows to build on past govs’ achievements, end thuggery, restore peace
On his part, ADC’s Najeem Salaam said his experience in governance, academic background as a political scientist and farmer qualified him to lead the state.
“I’m contesting to build on achievements of past governments that did it well and to correct the challenges that we have today,” Salaam said.
He said his administration would focus on closing identified gaps in governance and developing the state, while ensuring that the government remained accountable to the people.
“My government is going to be a people-centred government,’’ he added.
The ADC candidate also cited his academic qualifications and experience in public administration as part of the reasons he believed he was suited for the position.
“My doctorate degree is not honorary. It’s a doctor of philosophy in political science. I read political science in my first degree, second degree, and up to the PhD level,” he said.
Continuing, Salaam said Osun residents were tired of political violence and would support the candidate and party they believed could guarantee peace.
‘’Osun people do not want thuggery again because they see us as the most peaceful party. They also know the only candidate that can bring peace is Najeem Salaam and the only party that can bring peace is the ADC,” he said.
The former lawmaker alleged that political violence and proliferation of weapons remained major concerns in the state, warning that choosing other candidates could worsen existing tensions.
“Osun people know that if they give it to A or B, they will fight. I can tell you that Osun is filled with thuggery and ammunition. So, we will bring peace,” Salaam said.
He said his ambition was to build a better future for Osun residents through good governance, human development and policies targeted at improving the lives of the people.
“To build a better today and tomorrow for Osun. I will go in to develop Osun in a better way, give people what belongs to them. I am more fit than any other governor,” he said.
Salaam also described himself as a reserved politician who relied on research and planning, saying the policies contained in his 10-point agenda were realistic and achievable.
I’ll give governance back to people
— AAC candidate
Also speaking, Olajide Esan of the AAC pledged to return governance to the people, if elected, saying Osun had suffered from a lack of genuine leadership despite having many politicians, arguing that leadership should be centred on service rather than the exploitation of the people’s challenges.
He accused politicians of exploiting poverty and other challenges confronting the people, saying his administration would seek to reverse that pattern by giving residents a greater role in governance.
“Going into my vision, what is important to me is to give governance back to the people, because instead of leaders serving the people in Nigeria, especially in Osun State, it is the people who are serving the leaders,” he said.
Esan said his administration would establish an Osun Residents Database to provide the government with accurate information about residents and help in planning and delivering services.
“Part of the plans, we have what I call the Osun residents database. This database will give us the opportunity to have the information of Osun residents and to also be able to put the right things in place for Osun people,” he said.
He also proposed a financial dashboard that would allow residents to monitor government spending and demand explanations where public funds were not properly accounted for.
“Financial dashboard will give Osun people the opportunity to monitor and to track government spendings, so that if one error happens, they can call me, ‘youth governor, where is our one naira?” Esan said.
According to him, greater transparency and accountability would discourage politicians from treating governance as a business venture.
“Accountability is very important. Because the lack of accountability is what is making politics a lucrative business to career politicians,” he said.
Esan added that the proposed measures would ensure that the government became more responsive to residents and make it difficult for those seeking public office for personal gain to continue operating as usual.
Vanguard
