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.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected a letter submitted by the Samuel Anyanwu faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that the correspondence “failed to meet the requirements of the law.”
According to The Nation, the letter, jointly signed by Abdulrahaman Mohammed and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, had sought the postponement of the Ekiti Governorship Primary scheduled for November 8, 2025.
The faction claimed that “logistical reasons” made it impossible to conduct the exercise as planned.
In the letter dated November 6, 2025, titled “Postponement of PDP Ekiti State Congress/Governorship Primary,” the faction told the commission that a new date would be communicated.
Part of the letter read, “We wish to inform you that the PDP Ekiti State Congress and Governorship primary scheduled for November 8, 2025, has been postponed due to logistical reasons constraining this exercise… Please accept the assurances of my esteemed regards.”
Despite the request, the PDP went ahead with the primary on November 8, with Dr. Wole Oluyede emerging winner after polling 279 votes to defeat Funso Agent (239 votes) and Funmilayo Ogun (17 votes).
In its response dated November 10, 2025, and addressed to the PDP National Secretary under reference number INEC/DEPM/PDF/286/94, INEC declared the request invalid.
The letter, signed by the Commission’s Secretary, Mrs. Rose Oriaran Anthony, stated that the notice did not comply with the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
The letter reads, “The Commission draws your attention that the notice is not in compliance with the requirement of Part 2(12)3 of the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022, which provides that ‘the National Chairman and National Secretary of the Party shall jointly sign the notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting and submit the same to the Commission.’ Be guided.
The Commission hereby informs you that it has rejected your submission for non-compliance with the requirements of the Electoral Act.”
The commission’s firm position effectively invalidates Abdulrahaman Mohammed’s claim to be acting national chairman of the PDP.
Tension At Wadata Plaza As Rival PDP Factions Storm Secretariat Amid Heavy Security
There is heightened tension at the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abuja, as two rival factions claiming leadership of the party moved to hold parallel meetings at the same venue.
Heavily armed security operatives cordoned off major sections around Wadata Plaza on Tuesday, anticipating clashes between loyalists of Senator Samuel Anyanwu and the newly elected National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki.
Members of the Anyanwu-led National Working Committee were the first to arrive at the secretariat on Tuesday morning.
Speaking to journalists shortly after settling into his office, Anyanwu declared that he remains the substantive National Secretary of the party until December, stressing that no leadership announcement or convention outcome could invalidate his tenure.
He brushed aside reports of his expulsion by the Turaki group, insisting that due process had not been followed.
Responding to questions about whether he had invited the security operatives stationed outside the premises, Anyanwu confirmed that he had.
According to him, it is standard practice for the PDP to request the presence of security agencies whenever major party meetings are scheduled.
He added that the security operatives were also positioned to handle any “intruders,” a comment widely interpreted as a warning to the Turaki-led exco, which had also summoned its own emergency meeting at the same national headquarters.
The Turaki-led leadership had, on Monday, written to the police to alert them of what they described as plans by expelled officers to disrupt activities at the party secretariat.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has elected Kabiru Turaki (SAN), the former minister of special duties and intergovernmental affairs, as its new national chairman at its ongoing national convention.
Turaki’s emergence at the convention, which was being held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, where delegates from 17 states in the country cast their votes to elect national officers.
The new PDP national chairman was a minister under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
At the ongoing convention, the party had earlier announced the expulsion of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike. The PDP suspended Wike, along with the former governor of Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose, and the former national secretary of the party, Samuel Anyanwu.
The motion for the expulsion of the party leaders was moved by Olabode George, the former national vice chairman of the PDP. His motion was supported by Samaila Burga, the PDP chairman in Bauchi state.
Others who were expelled included the PDP’s national legal adviser, Adeyemi Ajibade (SAN), AbdulRahman Mohammed, George Turner, Dan Orbih, Umar Bature, Austin Nwachukwu, Mao Chuambuwa, and Abraham Ammah.
However, the expulsion of Wike and others has been rejected by the PDP have been rejected by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and Caleb Mutfwang of Adamawa and Plateau states.
Governor Mutfwang, in a statement, distanced himself from the motion seeking the expulsion of the PDP leaders. Mutfwang, through his director of press and public affairs, Gyang Bere, said that the development did not reflect his position.
According to Vanguard, the governor explained that the motion was never discussed at the PDP governor’s forum, nor was it tabled at the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. He stressed that such a move would be counter-productive as the PDP was trying to be stabilized and that the expulsion could further polarize the party rather than uniting it.
Also, Adamawa Governor Fintiri distanced himself from the expulsion of Wike, adding that he strongly believes that the decision was not in the best interest of the PDP and that such a decision would further polarize the party.
Governor Fintiri reiterated that he remains a faithful PDP member and that he would not be part of anything that would further polarize the party. He added that “I believe that peace and reconciliation are the only ways forward for our great party.”
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