By: L. A. Jimoh – Atoba, Ph.D.
waleatoba11@gmail.com
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has fixed August 15, 2026, for the Osun State governorship election, and full campaigns will kick off soon. My interest is in a man who meets my criteria for governor: Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
I am not a card-carrying member of any political party, but I stand for good governance — where equitable development reaches every sector of Osun’s economy. We need a leader committed to rapid, even development across the state.
The August 15 election is not about party colors, logos, slogans, or ethnic sentiment. It is about the future of our children, the health of our people, and the economic prosperity and dignity of our common heritage, Osun State.
In my assessment, the only candidate with the capacity to reset Osun is Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO).
Rhetorically, what kind of leader does Osun need at this critical moment? Not theatrical governance. Not a slogan-master. Not a politician who confuses entertainment with governance. The state needs a resetter — a man with proven administrative competence, deep fiscal discipline, and a heart that beats for every corner of Osun, not a sectional leader. That candidate is AMBO.
To be blunt, the state has recently endured “theatrical governance” — leadership that prioritizes theatrics over deliverables, photo-ops over policy, and empty promises over careful execution. The results: stagnant infrastructure, lopsided development, a struggling health system, frustrated youth, and a rural economy crying for attention.
Oyebamiji represents a departure from empty spectacle. He is not a man of grand gestures without substance. From the private sector to public finance and federal agency leadership, his record is measurable. As Commissioner for Finance in Osun, he grew Internally Generated Revenue from ₦6 billion to ₦24 billion — not by magic, but by plugging leakages, deploying technology, and enforcing ethical compliance. That is the integrity Osun desperately needs.
The current government’s lopsided focus on a few urban roads while communities like Obaagun decay is painful. Oyebamiji stands for equal and even infrastructural development. No community will be left behind. Whether you live in Osogbo, Ilesa, Iwo, Ikire, or the smallest village along Owode, Oko-ago in Atakumosa, Iyanfoworogi in Ife, or Lesiti in Ifedayo Local Government, you will feel the presence of government.
This is not a sugar-coated claim. It is rooted in his track record of inclusive development and equitable resource allocation. In his press release, he stated that under his watch, road construction, healthcare, electricity, and agricultural support will be prioritized and fairly distributed across all 30 LGAs and LCDAs.
My research shows that as Managing Director of NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji introduced the first Inland Waterways Safety Code in the agency’s 35-year history, drastically reducing boat accidents. That is the problem-solving mindset he will bring to Osun.
The gap between Bola Oyebamiji and others is clear: tested character, competence, and the courage — with the fear of his Creator — to take unpopular but necessary decisions for the common good.
We must not let the distraction of theatrical governance rob us of the good governance we deserve — one anchored on fairness and justice for all communities, including Obaagun, where 80% of the granite used for the few and unnecessary overhead bridges and all five major roads leading to Ede South and North is sourced, yet the town (Obaagun) itself suffers decade-long road decay, despite repeated reminders to the present government about its campaign promise to Obaagun town.
Bola Oyebamiji has unveiled his campaign blueprint. He is the man to move Osun beyond “dancing governance” into an era of equitable, accountable, and result-driven leadership. He is the man to reset Osun State for equitable allocation of resources and good governance, where the road leading to Iba from Obaagun will be newly constructed, and the Owode–Igangan corridor down to Ipetumodu and Oyan communities will feel the presence of government.
