The gubernatorial aspirant of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Oyo State, Ambassador Kunle Olatunji has emphatically absolved President Bola Tinubu of blame over the perceived lack of formidable opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress in Nigeria.
Olatunji submitted that major opposition leaders including Alhaji Atiku Abubakar ought to be held responsible.
The international businessman made this known during a live radio show on Splash 105.5fm Ibadan anchored by veteran journalist, Olayinka Agboola on Tuesday.
Amb. Olatunji said “it is very disheartening that opposition leaders like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Dr Peter Obi and others are always busy fighting one another. Is it right for them to lead us if they cannot put their house in order? What is President Bola Tinubu’s fault? Why are these leaders not willing to sacrifice their personal ambitions for the good of all Nigerians? Can everyone become the president of Nigeria at the same time?
Olatunji continued “it is only when they eschew selfishness and ego that we can have formidable opposition in Nigeria. At a point, President Tinubu even made jest of them by saying that he is always happy when he sees them in disarray. This alone ought to have ministered to them to unite.”
When speaking about his own ambition, the gubernatorial aspirant of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Oyo State identified visionary leadership, sincerity of purpose, commitment to service, empathy, and a strong belief in collective governance as the core values distinguishing him from other aspirants in the race for the 2027 Oyo State governorship election.
According to him, Oyo State is blessed with many brilliant and accomplished individuals across political parties contesting for the governorship position, but leadership requires more than brilliance alone.
In his words: “Oyo State is blessed with great and brilliant minds across the state, as evident in the quality of individuals being presented by various political parties for the 2027 gubernatorial election. We are all accomplished and brilliant people; however, only one person — the best among equals — will eventually emerge as Governor, and that is commendable.”»
He noted that the people of Oyo State are politically sophisticated and discerning enough to identify the qualities required for transformational leadership.
Olatunji stressed that his sincerity of purpose, commitment to collaborative governance, visionary leadership style, and deep understanding of critical governance issues place him in a strong position to provide purposeful leadership capable of surpassing the expectations of the people.
He further stated that Oyo State has not fully regained the enviable standards of governance and service delivery that once earned it the title of the “Pacesetter State.”
According to him: “The people are yearning for a return to the glorious years when Oyo State truly set the pace in governance and development within Nigeria. While previous administrations made efforts to reposition the state, many of those efforts fell short of public expectations.”
The ADP governorship aspirant explained that his administration, if elected in 2027, would adopt a deliberate, strategic, and inclusive approach to governance anchored on collectivism and collaborative engagement of citizens as active stakeholders and partners in government.
He criticized what he described as the “individualistic and messianic” approach to governance adopted by past administrations, noting that such models have not delivered sustainable development outcomes.
Olatunji argued that collective leadership and institutional collaboration remain the most dependable governance models in modern public administration and cited the achievements of notable leaders such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Chief Bola Ige, Michael Ajasin, Bisi Onabanjo, Lateef Jakande, and Ambrose Alli as examples of leaders who achieved remarkable success through teamwork and people-oriented governance.
He also referenced the developmental successes recorded in Singapore under Lee Kuan Yew, the Asian Tiger economies, Western Europe, and the United States as evidence of the effectiveness of strategic leadership and collaborative governance.
Olatunji assured the people of Oyo State that his administration would be fully prepared to deliver impactful governance from day one.
“Under my administration, by the grace of God and the mandate of the people in 2027, Oyo State will witness strategic reforms aimed at repositioning and reengineering the structures of governance. We shall pursue accelerated sectoral development and restore Oyo State to an enviable position among leading states in Nigeria,” he stated.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
