- reaffirms confidence in Adeleke
By John Dike, Osogbo
The Imole Accord Vanguard (IMAV) has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Osun State, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, against what it described as an attempt to return former governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, to power through the back door.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its State Coordinator, Hon. Hezekiah Oladele Bamiji, the group said Osun people would not be deceived into rewarding what it called the failures of the Oyetola administration by voting for a proxy candidate.
IMAV recalled that Oyetola was overwhelmingly rejected by voters in the 2022 governorship election due to what it described as widespread misgovernance and poor leadership, stressing that the memories of hardship experienced during that period remain fresh in the minds of the people.
According to the group, Oyebamiji is widely perceived as a political surrogate being positioned to smuggle Oyetola back to the Osun Government House, a development it said runs contrary to the democratic will of the people.
The group cited comments previously made by a former APC governorship aspirant, Senator Iyiola Omisore, who allegedly described Oyebamiji as a lackey of the former governor, noting that recent events have further reinforced that perception.
IMAV pointed to photographs circulating online showing Oyebamiji presenting his certificate of return to Oyetola, as well as claims that the APC candidate is being remotely controlled from Abuja, arguing that such actions undermine his independence and capacity to govern.
The group warned that the unfolding political arrangement bears resemblance to the situation in Rivers State, which it said has resulted in instability and governance challenges, adding that Osun State cannot afford a similar experience.
“Osun needs a governor who can take independent decisions without recourse to a godfather whose previous tenure was marked by monumental failures,” the statement read.
IMAV reaffirmed its support for Governor Ademola Adeleke, urging residents of the state to remain vigilant and continue to back his re-election in order to sustain ongoing developmental projects and improvements in citizens’ welfare.
The group maintained that the only path to continued progress in Osun lies in consolidating the gains recorded under the current administration, rather than returning to what it described as a painful and rejected past.
