Anyone can throw their hat into the ring of politics. But not everyone has the grit to stay the course for long. As for those who can or can’t aspire to lead from the front, the law is crystal clear.
For one, a farmer with the clout can eye an office and smack it down. The pepper seller by the road side is by the law allowed to fix her gaze at the echelon of power; so far, she is willing and ready to pay the price and bear the brunt. Former Governor, late Lam Adesina was a teacher before he joined active politics.
Tim Waltz, Minnesota state governor and former running mate to Kamala Harris in the 2024 US Presidential election once claimed his student encouraged him to give politics a chance – he was equally a teacher. Aremo Olusegun Osoba, the veteran journalist turned politician was voted the Governor of Ogun State in 1999. Similarly, Hon. Kafayat Abike Dabiri Erewa, the brilliant journalist who was in the House of Representatives for twelve years as a federal lawmaker. Globally, examples of professionals who switched careers to full time politics abound. In politics as it is in other endeavours, a cult of following can start a movement. Sadly, the question of sustainability persists.
Though, covert, ace broadcaster, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat has come under the spotlight of pundits and political analysts. He has dominated conversation in bear parlour and board room. Many admired his tenacity while others despise his overreach. In what many considered an audacity of ambition, Oriyomi has caught many off guard with his powerful and irresistible play on words: ‘Oyo N Pe O’, loosely translated as ‘You are been called by Oyo’. Emphasis on ‘call’.
To do what exactly. Because this is politics, to serve in the highest office as the Executive Governor of the state, by succeeding Governor Seyi Makinde in 2027 or so to speak. Many are called, but few are chosen is how the holy writ simply put it. In the Art of Work, Jeff Goins argued that “You don’t “just know” what your calling is. You must listen for clues along the way, discovering what your life can tell you. Awareness comes with practice”. Given his relative success as a media entrepreneur, no one can deny the fact that Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat has found one of his callings through speaking. The other big, beautiful and bold question will be whether Oyo is the one calling Oriyomi or it is Oriyomi that is thrusting and forcing himself on Oyo.
For months, the slogan, ‘Oyo N Pe O’ has spread quietly across the city of Ibadan like wildfire with billboards and posters displaying it with relish. In the heart of Ibadan for example, it was impossible not to catch a glimpse of the slogan. Like a popular Telco company, it was almost everywhere. Not surprisingly, curious minds became agitated. Passer-by murmured at its brilliance. The political hangers-on became furious, expressing reservation at such a gut. In places outside Ibadan, many held their hearts in their hands as they patiently waited to put a face behind the slogan. In the long run, the suspenseful veil was carefully unveiled and the man behind the mysterious poster appeared with full force: enter Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat founder, Agidigbo FM. While the 2027 gubernatorial contest is slowly taking shape, the level of preparation seems to be top-notch and fast paced – with political underdogs determined to run to win.
By next year, the contenders and the pretenders will have a level playing field to display their stuff and slug it out. While other aspirants across parties have openly and publicly declared their interests to succeed Governor Makinde in their usual and predictable manners, Oriyomi Hamzat’s style seems to take many by the jugular. As expected, both commendation and criticism have poured in for the popular radio maestro. I will highlight some of the criticisms and offer my nuance perspective. Take the 2023 governorship election. Media, the fourth estate of the realm by principle and practice, ought to be neutral and objective – at all times and in all matters. Their owners, without any equivocation, are equally expected to be apolitical and professional. Not for Oriyomi Hamzat who went all out for the re-election of Governor Seyi Makinde.
By throwing his weight behind Makinde, Oriyomi Hamzat wilfully turned himself into the unofficial mouthpiece of the PDP and its candidate – and by extension the arch-enemy of the opposition. I reckon that those who came under the firepower of Oriyomi’s overt and covert support for PDP and Makinde will come for him and his ambition. Contrary to what most of his digital dingbats are insinuating, attacks on Oriyomi’s political ambition are not on account of his credential or credibility. Far from it. Those vitriol are in part political, religious and societal. As a media practitioner and entrepreneur, Oriyomi Hamzat knew more than anyone the perils and pitfalls of taking sides openly and publicly in a political contest. Apart from its dent on media professionalism, it is also bad for business.
Granted, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the media establishment to sit on the fence and remain politically neutral. In the US to give this a global perspective, we saw this media proliferation and polarization played out in real time. CNN took side with the Democrats and Kamala Harris while Fox News unapologetically supported Donald Trump and the Republican. In a fledgling democracy like ours, we would be fooling ourselves by expecting the media to be hundred percent neutral and apolitical. Still, whatever support a media organization intends to offer a politician or a political party must be done behind the scenes to avoid barrage of backlash and pushback.
In essence, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat must brace for more political missiles. Perhaps, it is his ability and dexterity to intercept and neutralise those calculated and coordinated attacks that will determine how long he will stay in the race. Religiously, Alhaji Oriyomi equally has several axes to grind. Back to the build up to the 2023 governorship election. While endorsing Governor Makinde, Alhaji Oriyomi recorded a short but viral video that ultimately threw Muslims who advocated for Muslim candidates under a crushing bus. That video quickly sparked controversy, became a weapon in the hands of ignorant and non-Muslims while landing a devastating blow on those who profit from stoking the ember of religious discord.
“Have they not come to you”, Alhaji Oriyomi gleefully enthused in the self-recorded video “those who hide under [Muslim] brotherhood to trick others into voting against non-Muslims”. Perhaps, those who felt hurt and offended by that deliberate and subtle jibe will also pound on the flesh of the acclaimed human right defender when the time comes. Yes, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat has a cult following among the downtrodden. Yes, he is also loved by his supporters. Yes, he has a large following among the diaspora. In politics, a cult following is just the starting point and not the tipping point that can land any contestant at the doorstep of political victory.
OYO101 is Muftau Gbadegesin’s opinion about issues affecting the Oyo state and is published every Saturday. He can be reached via @Upliftnuggets on X, muftaugbadegesin@gmail.com, and 09065176850.
