Osun Poll: Tinubu’s Aide Throws Weight Behind Oyebamiji, Takes Fresh Swipe At Adeleke

The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

Ajayi made his position known on Wednesday while assessing the performances of the major candidates at the Arise TV town hall organised ahead of the election.

Oyebamiji is contesting against several candidates, including incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party and Najeem Salam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

In a post on X, Ajayi argued that Oyebamiji demonstrated a better understanding of the responsibilities involved in governing Osun State.

He wrote:

“That is a useful way to look at the Osun election. The state is not recruiting an entertainer, a professional campaigner or a permanent opposition politician.

“It is recruiting a chief executive to manage a financially constrained public enterprise called Osun State. On the evidence of what I saw at the town hall, Oyebamiji made the stronger case that he understands that job.”

According to the presidential aide, the APC candidate performed better in policy articulation, knowledge of public finance and managerial competence.

Ajayi said Oyebamiji approached governance from a management perspective, focusing on how available public resources could be used to improve the welfare of Osun residents.

He also highlighted Oyebamiji’s background as a banker and his experience as Commissioner for Finance under the administrations of former governors Rauf Aregbesola and Gboyega Oyetola.

The presidential aide said the APC candidate:

“presented himself as someone who has actually managed public finances rather than just speaking about them.”

‘Promises Must Have Funding’

Ajayi stressed that candidates seeking to govern a state with limited financial resources must clearly explain how they intend to fund their campaign promises.

“In a state with a history of fiscal constraints, promising everything without convincingly explaining the financing is not social policy, but fiscal romanticism,” he said.

He said Oyebamiji demonstrated an understanding of Osun’s financial position and also referred to his experience at Osun State Investment Holdings.

Ajayi further cited Oyebamiji’s claim that the Oyetola administration met its financial obligations without taking fresh loans and left approximately ₦16 billion in the state treasury for the succeeding administration.

“Those claims can be independently verified,” Ajayi added.

He urged voters to assess all the candidates based on their qualifications, experience, track records and capacity to govern rather than treating the election as a popularity contest.

“A governorship election should be an audit of competing records, plans and managerial capacity, not a popularity contest between personalities,” he said.

Ajayi also highlighted Oyebamiji’s argument that voters should approach the election as though they were selecting someone to manage a business.

“Looking at their qualifications, experience, temperament and understanding of finance, whom would the recruiter hire?” he asked.

Ajayi Criticises Adeleke’s Town Hall Performance

The presidential aide also took issue with Governor Adeleke’s performance at the town hall, describing his presentation as “forceful and combative.”

Ajayi accused the governor of devoting significant attention to former governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Gboyega Oyetola, rather than concentrating on his own record in office.

He argued that political attacks could not replace a convincing account of an administration’s achievements.

“Political attacks may excite loyalists, but they are not substitutes for a convincing account of stewardship.”

According to Ajayi, this was particularly important because Adeleke was seeking a second term.

“A candidate asking voters for another four years should be able to make the election principally about his record, not the shortcomings of predecessors,” he said.

Ajayi Also Assesses ADC Candidate

Ajayi also commented on the performance of ADC candidate Najeem Salam, describing his campaign promises as ambitious but questioning their financial sustainability.

He said Salam’s proposals for free services and increased government intervention might appeal to voters but lacked adequate explanations about how the programmes would be funded.

The presidential aide warned that implementing extensive programmes without sustainable financing could place additional pressure on Osun State’s finances.

In his overall assessment, Ajayi maintained that Oyebamiji presented the strongest case at the town hall for managing Osun State, citing his experience, financial knowledge and approach to governance.