Politics
AMBO! AMBO!! Everywhere, Why AMBO? – By Kola Odepeju
The way the catchword AMBO, which is the acronym of Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji is spreading rapidly across Osun state like the harmattan fire tells much about the personality of the man. Every nook and cranny in the state of Osun today AMBO has become a household name. It’s on the lips of everyone; both old and young ones, youths and children, indigenes and non-indigenes in the state.
The fast and vast acceptability of this campaign slogan reminds me of when we started ORANMIYAN, the name with which the former governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola launched out in 2004 to sell himself to Osun people for his governorship aspiration then. It would be recalled that ORANMIYAN – within just a month that it was launched – had become a mass movement. It had become like sugar attracting ants in multiples from all angles. No doubt the situation we have now in respect of the name AMBO can be likened to the ORANMIYAN or the Ó TÓGÉ movement in Kwara state in 2019.
As one of the promoters of AMBO, l receive calls and messages daily from people especially Osun indigenes in the diaspora inquiring about AMBO. Questions like; Kola, “what’s the full meaning of AMBO?”, “who’s he?”, “why are you supporting him of all the other aspirants?”, “what’s his antecedent?”, “how much of him do you know?”, “can he deliver the goods?” etcetera etcetera. Of course these are questions that are very simple for me to answer. Very simple to answer because I don’t really need to stress myself much to provide answers to them as AMBO is a credible and sellable candidate.
I endeavor to explain to my inquisitors the full meaning of AMBO and that he’s the *Asiwaju of Ikire town* and that he gains this much acceptability within this short time due to the fact that he’s a symbol of charismatic leadership; that some certain attributes endear him to many people. These are integrity, competence, humility, resourcefulness, vision and some other positive character traits.
INTEGRITY: To say that AMBO is a man of integrity is to simply state the obvious as his antecedent testifies to this. A very honest man who has demonstrated this quality in the different capacities he had found himself in the past; both in the private and public sectors he has never been found wanting in terms of moral principles.
COMPETENCE: Talking of competence, AMBO is eminently qualified. He possesses the needed educational qualifications and also the skill requires to provide quality leadership. Given his antecedents as a performer and a result-oriented person, he’s undoubtedly capable of taking Osun to greater heights.
HUMILITY: Another lofty quality that endears AMBO to the people is his humble nature. The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of the English language defines the word *humility* as a modest and low opinion of one’s own importance. Just like his boss, the honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola, AMBO’s unassuming nature is not only commendable but enviable. It’s also one of the reasons why he commands massive followership in the state. Never would anyone know that he’s the Asiwaju of Ikire. He’s not a noise maker. He lives a simple life and he’s not given to unnecessary grandstanding to attract attention.
RESOURCEFULNESS: Resourcefulness is defined as the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties. AMBO is a highly resourceful and result-oriented person. He knows how to wiggle around a difficult situation to bring about positive results. As the commissioner for finance under governor Oyetola then he demonstrated that capacity as his creativity brought about appreciable increase in Osun IGR (Internally Generated Revenue). This assisted the state substantially in meeting up with people’s expectations with respect to the duties and obligations of government to the citizens.
VISION: Vision is the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom. The hallmark of a visionary leader is not only in having vision, but knowing how to translate that vision to reality. This quality isn’t lacking in AMBO. This is evident in the way he envisioned increase in IGR as commissioner for finance under Oyetola and how he brought it about through his ingenuity. This indicates that translating his vision for a greater Osun to reality is possible, no doubt.
CHARACTER: AMBO is a man gifted with positive character traits viz; honesty, transparency, empathy, loyalty, kindness, generosity; just to mention a few. AMBO’s good character earned him the title Asiwaju of Ikire, no doubt. Like the Yorubas do say; “*Ki a to fi eniyan joyè ninu ìlú, o ni lati jé eni rere*” (Before a person can be made a chief in any community he or she must be of good character).
The aforementioned, are the reasons why AMBO is gaining acceptability daily in the state as people know that he towers above others in terms of those charismatic qualities a leader who should lead the state of *OMOLUABI* must possess. That he has all it takes to take Osun to the next level cannot be disputed.
– Kola Odepeju, political activist and social commentator, writes from Iragbiji, Osun state.
Politics
Political Twist: Nigerians React as NDC Gives Key Appointment to Peter Obi’s Popular Critic
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced the appointment of Agada Abuh Theophilus, who is a popular critic of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the party in the 2027 general elections, as its director of new media and strategic communications.
The party also announced the appointment of Brian Dennis as the deputy director of new media and strategic communications.
Osa Director, the NDC national publicity secretary, announced the appointments in a statement on Wednesday, June 10. According to him, the appointments were part of the efforts to strengthen the party’s digital operation and media engagement strategy ahead of future political activities.
Theophilus has been a popular voice in the political space in Nigeria since the 2023 presidential election. He consistently criticised Obi and the Obidient Movement on his social media platform, particularly X.
He has been a consistent challenger of the political views of Peter Obi and has questioned the direction and structure of the Obidient Movement since the outcome of the 2023 general elections. The NDC explained that the appointment of Theophilus will bring extensive experience in political communications, public relations, and corporate brand management.
However, the appointment has started generating reactions from Nigerians. Below are some of their comments:
Lagospidia said the Obidients would not be happy with the appointment: “Obidients seem to be in a difficult position on this one. Whether they like it or not, they may have to accept the appointment of Theo, a figure widely seen as not being aligned with Peter Obi.”
Nuhu Sada commented on the importance of the appointment ahead of the 2027 general elections:
“Political communication is becoming a key battlefield, and every appointment signals preparation for what lies ahead.”
Good News criticised the appointment: “These political parties are one kind sha. So, of all the people to appoint, it is the one who is a renowned antagonist of the presidential candidate you found. I will never understand this insensitivity.”
Iwu Nna questioned how Theophilus will now market Obi as the NDC presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections: “While everyone is angry, here is the real question. Will he calm down to lick his own vomit? Because he clearly has to market and hype Peter Obi, whom he has clearly disparaged on this app.”
Politics
BREAKING: Court Takes Action on APC Primaries
The Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, the Zamfara State Capital, has adjourned the hearing of the suit filed to challenge the results of the senatorial primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Zamfara North senatorial district to June 25, 2026.
Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, an aggrieved aspirant in the election, challenged the outcome of the primary election, citing irregularities. He had mentioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APC and Sahabi Ya’u Kaura, the party’s senatorial candidate for Zamfara North.
The Tribune reported that when the matter was called for hearing on Tuesday, June 9, the court could not continue with the proceedings over the absence of INEC and the APC, who are the defendants in the suit.
Justice Hassan Dikko of the trial court then adjourned the suit to June 25 for further hearing. Shinkafi is challenging the process and outcome of the ruling party’s national assembly primary election, where Senator Kaura had emerged as the APC candidate for the Zamfara North senatorial district.
Barrister Bello Galadi, the lawyer to the plaintiff, who addressed journalists after the hearing, said Shinkafi was seeking the intervention of the court over what he tagged as a flawed primary election process.
Politics
2027 Election: What Peter Obi Told Me About Atiku – Dele Momodu Reveals
Veteran journalist and publisher of Ovation International, Chief Dele Momodu, has disclosed that former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, once turned down his suggestion to work closely with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 political battle because he believed he had a stronger political following.
Momodu made the revelation while speaking during an interview on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, where he reflected on his relationship with both politicians and the discussions he had with Obi after the 2023 general election.
According to him, he encouraged the former Anambra State governor to rebuild his political alliance with Atiku, arguing that the ex-Vice President played a major role in bringing Obi to the national stage when he selected him as his running mate in the 2019 presidential election.
“I told Peter why don’t you go and work with Atiku. Atiku was the person who brought him to national prominence,” Momodu said.
The media entrepreneur recalled that Atiku’s decision to settle for Obi as his running mate was not welcomed by some influential figures within the Peoples Democratic Party at the time.
“When Atiku picked Peter, the governors were angry but one thing about Atiku is that once he makes up his mind, he’s a very focused man,” he added.
Momodu explained that he tried to convince Obi by pointing to examples of leaders in different countries who eventually rose to the highest political office after serving as deputies.
“So, I told Peter, I said sir, Your Excellency, try and work with this man (Atiku), then I gave him copious examples. I said if Mahama was not a VP to Prof Atta Mills, maybe he would never be President of Ghana because he came from a minority just like Jonathan in Nigeria,” he said.
“I gave the example of Jonathan, I gave the example in America. Even Joe Biden, who was much older than Obama, still came back to become president because you’re able to demonstrate your capacity.”
Despite the advice, Momodu said Obi was not convinced that such a political arrangement would benefit him.
“You’ve always been a governor of a state but Peter told me he’s more popular than Atiku,” Momodu stated.
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