By Newspot Nigeria Politics Desk
The media team of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Osun State, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, has accused the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke of launching what it described as a campaign of misinformation against the APC candidate ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
In a statement released on March 9 and signed by Adebayo Adedeji, Coordinator of the AMBO Media Fronts, the group said recent criticisms of Oyebamiji by the Osun State Government were a reflection of what it called “panic and political isolation” within the Adeleke administration.
The statement was issued in response to a press release from the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, which reportedly listed multiple allegations against the APC candidate and questioned his suitability to serve as governor.
According to the AMBO media team, the accusations were “a compilation of half-truths, distortions and outright misinformation,” arguing that the Adeleke administration had spent nearly four years in office without initiating any credible prosecution against Oyebamiji if evidence of wrongdoing truly existed.
The group further argued that the timing of the allegations, coming months before the governorship election, suggested a political motive aimed at damaging the APC candidate’s reputation.
The statement also cited the recent defection of two officials from the Adeleke administration to the APC as evidence that the governor’s government was losing support. The officials mentioned were Bishop Michael Adewale, a Special Adviser to the governor, and Hon. Adeboye Sikiru Akinyemi, Vice Chairman of Odo-Otin Local Government.
The AMBO Media Fronts maintained that Oyebamiji’s record in public office demonstrated competence and integrity. It highlighted his tenure as Managing Director of the Osun State Investment Company Limited (OSICOL), where it claimed the company’s fortunes improved significantly and new investments were developed, including residential properties and an NNPC Mega Station.
The group also defended Oyebamiji’s tenure as Commissioner for Finance under the administration of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, stating that he helped end the half-salary regime affecting civil servants and facilitated the implementation of the ₦30,000 national minimum wage in Osun State.
In addition, the statement dismissed allegations relating to the management of a $20 million World Bank primary healthcare grant, arguing that such projects are subject to strict international auditing standards and that hundreds of primary healthcare centres were revitalized under the programme.
Similarly, the media team rejected claims that Oyebamiji performed poorly during his tenure as Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), asserting that waterway accidents declined significantly during his leadership.
Beyond defending the APC candidate, the AMBO Media Fronts raised a series of questions directed at the Adeleke administration regarding governance and public spending.
Among the issues raised were demands for clarification on the state government’s handling of nearly ₦1 trillion in revenue since 2022, the reported purchase of 114 tractors announced by the government in August 2024, and spending priorities including travel costs and allocations to the agriculture sector.
The group also questioned the state government’s position on local government leadership disputes, salary arrears inherited from previous administrations, and the appointment of certain individuals to leadership roles in state-owned tertiary institutions.
According to the statement, the Adeleke administration should focus on responding to questions about its stewardship rather than engaging in what the group described as “character assassination.”
The media team concluded that the upcoming August 15 governorship election would provide voters with an opportunity to evaluate the competing claims and records of both sides.
The Osun State Government has not yet issued an official response to the latest statement from the AMBO Media Fronts at the time of filing this report.
— Newspot Nigeria.
