Osun Governorship Debate: Oyebamiji Says Osun People Want A Change of Government

Preamble

The tension shifted briefly from the rally grounds to the town hall. Amid the campaigns, fireworks, gimmicks, spin and verbal attacks, the three leading candidates in the Osun governorship election made time for a debate to present their programmes and manifestos to the state’s 2.3 million registered voters.

Organised by Arise News Television in conjunction with members of the Nigerian Tribune editorial board, the anchors were Dr Reuben Abati, who served as the lead moderator, and Adesua Omoruan as support. The panellists included Dr Lasisi Olagunju, editor of Saturday Tribune; Mrs Ajiboye of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC); and Dr Festus Adedayo, a member of the Nigerian Tribune editorial board.

Mr Bola Munirudeen Oyebanji was the fourth candidate to be interviewed. Here are the excerpts from the town hall interview

Why Do You Want to Be Governor? Is it because you have the Advantage of Federal Might?

My name is Bola Oyebamiji. I attended primary School in Ikire, secondary school in Ayedaade, then the Polytechnic, Ibadan, and the University of Ado-Ekiti. I’m a banker with 28 years of experience. I’m a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Nigeria (CIBN).

I was appointed the MD/CEO of Osun State Investment Company Limited (OSICOL) under Governor Rauf Aregbesola, where I met a negative shareholders’ fund of N300 million, and I was able to turn the company around to profitability. I then left OSICOL to serve as Commissioner of Finance under Governor Aregbesola and later Governor Oyetola. From there, I went to the federal government, where I was appointed as the Managing Director of Nigeria Inland Waterways

My Vision

Governance is about people. It is about the welfare and security of the people. I want to banish poverty and invest in agriculture, healthcare, and education. The welfare of workers is top priority for me.

On the Use of Federal Might

I listened to Mr Governor. I have visited 30+1 in Osun State; nobody is using federal might. The people are united in that the government is doing nothing and should be removed. I went around the second time, and you can see that our people are ready to remove the government. I went the third time to meet the traditional rulers, and the verdict is the same: they want a regime change. I have been endorsed by different groups- women, men, Youth – have endorsed Oyebamiji as their next governor. They are just jittery; there is nothing Federal might.

Is this a continuation of the previous governor’s administration? Return of Half Salary?

Anytime that question is being raised, I like to remind people that when I came in during the second term of Governor Aregbesola, I saw the balance sheet. He persuaded the Governor to write a letter for the refund of the Paris Club debt. A letter of request was sent to President Buhari, who graciously approved it, and Osun State was paid N16 billion. We continued to pay full salaries until 2022, when we left office.

On An Alliance Between the APC and the Police, Militarisation, Destruction of Billboards and Being A Placeholder for Oyetola

I am a complete gentleman. I know my State very well; I have never joined any group that will destroy people living a peaceful life. In 2022, 25 APC members were killed. We did not retaliate. I have just been informed that 3 of our members have just been killed in Ilesa. No ambition is worth the life of any human being. Ape is very well structured.

For Oyetola to direct me? – He is a polished and structured man. I have worked under him before; he leaves people to use their initiative, make their mistakes and correct themselves. He has not followed me to my campaigns.

On Osun Finances and the Return to Prosperity

Firstly, when I started working out OSICOL, the company had collapsed. I looked into the company’s books and invited the workers, and after interviewing them, I found out that the workers were not the problem. They needed effective leadership. The company had distributorships with several blue-chip companies. I knew we could turn it around. I went abroad and saw water being distributed with red labels at the stadium. I brought the sample and did a simple exercise with my team. I placed some water in a bottle and in a plain bottle, then changed the label. I asked the team which one was more attractive. Nine out of eleven members chose the one with the coloured label. We changed the label, and the unit that was hitherto not profitable gave us 70 percent profit in two months. I then approached the blue-chip companies and requested their products and developed a debt repayment plan. That same year, we won the best distributors award from seven of those companies.

Coming from a banking background helped and prepared me. Then we went into the property business; we built 100 3-bedroom flats in Osogbo. At Ikeja Sobo Arobiodu Street in the GRA, OSICOL built 36 flats, each with 4 bedrooms. We proceeded to Anuja and built six duplexes in OSICOL’s name. We wrote to request a Mega Station; the governor approved it, and it was built at Abere in Osogbo.

If Elected Governor, Which Three Major Areas Would You Focus on? Why does the APC government always face accusations of importing people from Lagos?

I am going to run a very serious business. Government is serious business. I will run a transparent and accountable government. Ninety percent of Osun resources go to only two local governments, which is an aberration and even criminal. I will focus on the health sector, where there is not a single MRI in Osun State. I am concerned about the welfare of the health workers. In education, there is a deficit of 28,000 teachers in the state, and that is why education is somersaulting.

For the 12 years of APC in Osun State, total revenue was N450 billion, but in three and a half years, the Adeleke government has collected N650 billion. How can anyone match the level of development with the huge resources accruing to them? The Oyetola government did not borrow any money. And we left N15 billion in the account when we were leaving. We were given the Best Prudent Government award and also won another award for best in revenue generation.

Funding the Manifesto and the Omission of Munirudeen from His INEC Form

I was born a Muslim. I was raised as a Muslim. My Muslim name is Munirudeen. I hold several Muslim titles. I am a Muslim by birth, and the Muslim community appreciates that.

On Capital Flight from Osun to Lagos

How is that possible? What money or revenue will you take to Lagos, and for what purpose? Lagos is bigger than several economies in West Africa.

On the Description of Osun State as a Civil-Servant State

I do not agree that Osun State is simply a civil-servant State. I have told you about all the businesses we created under the OSICOl in Osun State. Agriculture has a lot of potential. We would make the business environment more conducive. When we were in government, our FAAC allocation was N3.5 billion, while our wage bill was N3.7 billion. But now the government collects between N23 and N27 billion monthly.

On Road Construction and Political Violence

It is a pity that we have a poor government. All their road constructions are substandard. The contractors for the roads are interior decorators. The quality of the roads is poor Our approach will be based on Citizens’ needs – what do the people want? Why is the government constructing bridges when people don’t need them? It is the citizens’ needs that should populate the budget. Not the government’s wishes. The government has abandoned the important roads connecting towns in Osun State. Bridge construction does not make sense. I have gone through tutelage in governance. Do you know that they could not hold a State Executive Council meeting? Let them controvert me. We used to hold it weekly every Monday. The next day, the Commissioner for Information would inform the public. It will be an inclusive government. By the time we are declared the winner, the people will see our Agenda.

On State Police and Abuse of Power

State Police is a good policy of the government. Governance is about processes and institutions. Our party is made up of people who know what they are doing. We will follow and implement what is in the State police policy.

He refused to rate the governors, saying every government has their good and bad sides. He said he was confident that he would win the election on August 15, 2026.