The capital city of Osun State, Osogbo, on Friday was locked down as jubilations rented the air in reception of Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly called AMBO, the leading gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State.
The jubilant residents within Osogbo and Olorunda Local Government Areas took to the streets in their domains to welcome AMBO Movement. Some party members and leaders had earlier assembled at strategic places to receive Oyebamiji and his entourage. Major streets like Ogo-oluwa, Gbodofon, popular Olaiya, MDS, Orisunbare, Ajegunle, Olonkoro, Igbonna, station road, Popo, Oja-Oba, Isale-Osun, among others places, stood still as residents in those areas cheered Oyebamiji while many strived to take a glimpse at him.
This is even as the APC chieftains threw their weights behind Oyebamiji’s candidature, saying “your aspiration is divine and God’s project”
Oyebamiji who is the current Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, pledged to prioritize Osogbo in the scheme of things, noting that ” developing our capital city is nonnegotiable if elected Governor come 2026″
Recall that Oyebamiji and his AMBO team had visited 26 local governments in Osun State to register his aspiration to contest the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.
In their separate remarks during the consultation, APC Chairman Council of Elders in Osogbo Local Government, Chief Adegboye Raimi; Olorunda Local Government APC Chairman Council of Elders, Chief Lasisi Odebunmi; APC Osun Central Senatorial Leader, Hon. Adeoye Adelakun; former Deputy Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Akintunde Adegboye; Executive Director, Marine Operations, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Engr Olalekan Badmus, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Protocol, Ambassador Issah Niniola; former Osogbo State Constituency Lawmaker, Hon. Taofeek Badamosi Abolubode; Chairman, Osogbo Local Government Area, Hon. Saheed Onibonokuta, former Olorunda State Constituency Lawmaker, Hon. Wasiu Adebayo, among others, expressed readiness to work assiduously at returning progressive party to government next year.
The party leaders acknowledged the peaceful coexistence between and among the leadership and members of the party, particularly among the governorship aspirants, said APC was resolute to unseat the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke come 2026 governorship election.
The APC chieftains eulogized Oyebamiji’s peaceful conduct, high sense of consistency and steady engagement in pursuing his ambition to fly the party’s flag and subsequently emerge victorious in the main guber poll, assuring him of utmost support and solidarity.
They urged Oyebamiji to prioritize Osogbo in the scheme of things when elected Governor, hinting that “it is unfortunate that the capital city has not attained the feat it deserves”
In his words, Olalekan Badmus said: “the overwhelming quality leaders and members of the party that came out to receive Oyebamiji today is a clear indication that Osogbo is solidly behind him.”
Also, Saheed Onibonokuta said: ” We have seen it for ourselves now that Osogbo is for Oyebamiji and there’s no going back. We are solidly behind his candidacy and we pray God to lead him through and crown our efforts.”
In his words, Ambassador Issah Niniola said: ” AMBO is now a household name and it is crystal clear that Oyebamiji is the next Osun Governor. We are working assiduously to ensure his emergence at the primary and main governorship election because we have seen the best quality in him to lead our party to victory and emerge victorious come 2026 gubernatorial election.”
Similarly, Hon. Taofeek Badamosi Abolubode said: ” We are for Oyebamiji and our conviction is hinged on his competence, integrity, dignity, experience, expertise, professionalism, capacity, capability and can-do spirit to lead our party to victory.”
In his remarks, Oyebamiji extolled the people of Osogbo and Olorunda Local Government Areas for the warmth reception saying, ” it is an affirmation of victory and symbol of triumphant.”
He expressed his determination to run an inclusive, participatory and people-centred government if elected Governor, asserting that “our target is to lead by example and administer the affairs of our state with faithfulness, fear of God and utmost integrity.
Oyebamiji promised to advance the cause of Osogbo, raise the bar of governance and set Osun on the pedestal of sustainable development across sectors of the economy.
“The crowd I saw today was not only massive but intimidating and this is an affirmation and attestation to the fact that God Almighty is on our side. It shows that we are genuinely pursuing this goal and people are very much with us. With what we experienced today across the streets of Osogbo, it is an indication that we are already victorious. Osogbo is for Oyebamiji and Osogbo is for AMBO Movement. We are proud of you and elated to see our people genuinely coming out to receive us. We promise not to let you down.
“To me, I have no reason not to advance the cause of our capital city in particular and Osun in general if elected. Osogbo is known for commerce and industry and being the capital city and commercial centre of our dear state, we shall engage in massive infrastructural development to industrialize and commercialize our state capital through genuine investments and implementation of future-focused and pro-masses politicies and programmes.
“Industrialization will be expanded in Osogbo. We will prioritize Osogbo in all our projects implementation. We will not relent until we raise and uplift the bar of governance and advance socioeconomic, infrastructural developments in all fronts.
“So, I want to assure our people in Osogbo that our government will prioritize the capital city. I also want to implore you all to participate actively in the ongoing continuous voter’s registration exercise. This is our civic responsibility as citizens and lovers of AMBO. Let’s collect our permanent voter’s cards to elect AMBO in the next governorship election in the state”, Oyebamiji added.
The consultation tours had in attendance leaders and members of the party across the two local government areas in the capital city.