The major contenders in Saturday’s Osun State governorship election have expressed confidence in their chances of victory, while outlining competing visions for the state.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, African Democratic Congress, ADC, candidate Dr Najeem Salaam, and African Action Congress, AAC, candidate Olajide Esan spoke at an Arise Townhall Meeting in Osogbo. The candidates were questioned separately by a panel comprising media professionals Dr Reuben Abati, Dr Lasisi Olagunju, Dr Festus Adedayo and Adesuwa Omoruan.
Adeleke dismissed concerns about the support being received by his APC opponent from the Federal Government and some APC governors. Describing himself as a “bulldozer,” the governor said he was not intimidated by what he called federal might.
“I am a bulldozer. I am talk and do. I am not afraid of federal might and governors backing the APC candidate,” he said.
Adeleke said the governors supporting his opponent were his friends and could not determine the outcome of the election. He also rejected allegations that his administration had militarised Osun ahead of the poll, saying he lacked the constitutional authority to deploy the armed forces.
The governor highlighted his administration’s achievements in roads, healthcare and agriculture. According to him, about 350 kilometres of roads had been constructed, while another 160 kilometres were still under construction.
He also said about 200 healthcare centres had been rehabilitated and equipped with facilities, including beds and solar lighting. In agriculture, Adeleke disclosed that his administration had acquired 31 tractors and distributed seedlings and other inputs to farmers.
He dismissed criticism of some of the roads constructed by his administration as political propaganda. The governor also defended his dancing, which has attracted criticism from opponents, saying his recreational activities had no impact on his responsibilities as governor.
On security, Adeleke said more than 1,500 Amotekun personnel had been recruited and trained by retired military and police officers before deployment across the state’s local government areas. He urged voters to remain peaceful, protect their votes and ensure that results were properly followed from polling units through collation.
Adeleke also reaffirmed his support for state police, promising that the rule of law would apply to everyone. Asked whether he would congratulate his opponent if he lost, Adeleke dismissed the possibility, saying he was confident he would win.
Oyebamiji rejected suggestions that the Federal Government’s influence would determine the outcome of the election. The APC candidate said his focus was on improving the welfare of residents across all parts of Osun State.
“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 promised to prioritise security, agriculture, education, healthcare and human capital development.
“We want to banish hunger and poverty. I want to invest seriously in agriculture, education, and health,” he said.
He said his campaign across all 30 local government areas had convinced him that many residents wanted a change of government. Oyebamiji also challenged Adeleke over the management of federal allocations received by the state.
He claimed the state had received about N650 billion in federal allocations during Adeleke’s administration, compared with about N450 billion received during 12 years of APC administrations under former governors Rauf Aregbesola and Gboyega Oyetola. He further claimed that Oyetola left approximately N15 billion for the incoming administration, disputing claims that Adeleke inherited an empty treasury.
ADC candidate Najeem Salaam said he was seeking the governorship to build on the achievements of previous administrations while addressing existing gaps in governance. He pointed to his political experience, academic background and knowledge of public administration as qualifications for the position.
Salaam, who holds a doctorate in political science, said his administration would be people-centred and focused on accountability. He also made security and political peace central to his campaign. According to him, residents were tired of political violence and wanted an administration capable of restoring stability.
“Osun people do not want thuggery again because they see us as the most peaceful party,” he said.
Salaam alleged that the proliferation of weapons and political thuggery remained serious concerns in the state. He promised to pursue policies aimed at improving human development, governance and the welfare of residents. The ADC candidate also described his 10-point agenda as realistic and achievable, saying his approach to governance would be based on research and planning.
AAC candidate Olajide Esan said his central objective was to return governance to the people of Osun State. He argued that residents had increasingly been made to serve political leaders instead of politicians serving the public.
Esan proposed the establishment of an Osun Residents Database to help government obtain reliable information about residents and improve planning. He also proposed a financial dashboard that would allow residents to track government expenditure. According to him, such a system would give citizens greater visibility into how public resources were being spent.
“Accountability is very important. Because the lack of accountability is what is making politics a lucrative business to career politicians,” he said.
Esan argued that greater transparency would make government more responsive and discourage politicians from treating public office as a business opportunity.
With the election approaching, the four candidates presented sharply different arguments to voters — from Adeleke’s defence of his record and Oyebamiji’s promise of change, to Salaam’s emphasis on peace and Esan’s push for citizen-centred governance. Ultimately, the candidates agreed on one point: the decision rests with the people of Osun State when they cast their ballots on August 15.
