Oyebamiji and Adeleke
By Thomas Abidoye
A fresh political debate has erupted on social media ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election after an aide to Governor Ademola Adeleke questioned the suitability of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), to govern the state.
In a post shared on his official Facebook page, the governor’s aide, Akintunde Bello Sheriff, said he did not consider Oyebamiji fit for the office of governor, alleging that the APC candidate’s campaign had leaned towards religious sentiments.
Sheriff criticised a video in which Oyebamiji allegedly promised to build a mosque, arguing that such a promise was inappropriate in a secular state.
He also referenced another video in which the APC candidate allegedly described himself as a “paradise candidate,” saying the comments raised concerns about religious tolerance.
The governor’s aide further argued that Adeleke was more intellectually prepared for the office, claiming Oyebamiji had not meaningfully engaged with the media and would struggle during a governorship debate.
Sheriff also maintained that the Adeleke family had supported Islam over the years without making public announcements about their contributions, insisting that only God could judge an individual’s faith.
He wrote “Believe me frankly and this is not about any political bias, I don’t see the APC Candidate Muniru Bola Oyebamiji as someone fit to occupy the office of Governor. This man is too divisive on the leaning of religion and this is why I don’t rate him. He was seen on tape sometimes ago promising he was going to build a Mosque and I wonder what manner of manifesto was Guy pushing in a secular State? If you promise a Mosque; should Christians and Atheists and Traditional Worshipers go stranded? A particular idiot associating with MURIC even said at a studio that Muniru’s forehead has a dark spot to confirm being a practicing Muslim and I wondered what manner of senseless campaign in a 21st century? I watched a video clip today where Muniru himself was saying that the people should vote for a paradise Candidate I.e Omo Aljanat? I instantly give up on Muniru after watching the video. The Islam teaches tolerance and peaceful coexistence but unfortunately the APC Candidate is a direct opposite of these ideals. Is Muniru fanatical? He is no better Muslim than the rest people.
“He is even sluggish for the liking of an average person of wisdom. You can argue anything, Governor Ademola Adeleke is way above smarter than a Muniru. The office of Governor can not be traded for a sluggish Man. When the APC even try to portray intellect about Ambo, his academic documents say otherwise. Muniru Bola Oyebamiji has not meaningfully engaged intellectually and openly with the media. Each time he opens himself up to journalists, he ended up fumbling such as his westorial flaw the other time.
“Minus federal might; there is nothing particularly spectacular about the person of Mr Muniru Bola Oyebamiji and this is not downgrading him. He is not the best of the best among us. Should he face a thorough interviewing session by seasoned journalists; I am not in doubt he will mess up.
“The Adelekes have done so much for Islam. They built many Mosques and touch humanity with their money, yet they don’t make a noise out of all these. It is arrogance to assume you worship better. Only Allah knows the closet of every Individual.
“I forsee a total eclipse of the APC Candidate at the governorship debate when he faces the smart Asiwaju Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke. We stand a date with renewed history under Accord. Imole till 2030 in Osun State.”
The post, however, generated mixed reactions from supporters of the APC candidate and other social media users.
An APC supporter, Adeolu Olooto, dismissed the comparison between Oyebamiji and Adeleke, arguing that the governor’s religious practices did not place him above the APC candidate. He said the only area Adeleke could be rated above Oyebamiji was dancing.
Adeolu Olooto wrote”Politics is funny, stylishly you are comparing Bola Oyebamiji with Ademola Adeleke and even trying to rate Adeleke above Oyebamiji, and you think your readers are not intelligent than agree with your baseless and pointless post, Ademola Adeleke doesn’t have a particular religion, going to church in the morning, mosque in the afternoon and Baba Alawo in the night, and you want to start comparing him with a practicing Muslim like Oyebamiji? The only area where Adeleke can be rate over Oyebamiji is dancing, and come to matured and reasonable dance, governor Ademola Adeleke’s dance will be useless and mannerless”
Another APC loyalist, Mayor-General Taofeek Tope, accused the governor’s aide of introducing religion into politics. He alleged that the Adeleke administration had funded religious projects and challenged the governor’s camp to openly play the religion card.
Mayor-General Taofeek Tope wrote, “When the Governor was using the state resources to build Sango shrine in Ede and using the state resources to do thanks giving in churches despite claiming to be muslim you never write any epistle about that. Now because Asiwaju Munirudeen is having the supports of the people you now wants to bring religion to the political situation of the state. Let the Governor also play religion card now and let see who blink first. Is #AMBO time know this.”
Another commenter, Falola Hammed Opeyemi, who said he was not a supporter of the APC candidate, also disagreed with the governor’s aide’s position.
He recalled previous donations by the Adeleke family to churches and questioned whether similar support had been extended to mosques, arguing that the governor’s aide was the one introducing religion into the political conversation.
Falola wrote”This is unfair, I can remember vividly when Adeleke family donated 1 5 billion Naira to a church at the instance of the governor, has the family ever given any mosque any amount close to 500 million Naira? I’m just asking. Im not fan of APC candidate rather but it seems you’re the one pushing religion card here. I am sure if you ask the man, directly as a politician, there will instance where he had donated to churches too. After all, Akogun renovated central mosque in Ikire, how many churches received the same gesture?”
The exchange comes as political campaigns intensify across Osun State ahead of the governorship election.
