Popular Ibadan-based broadcaster and Accord Party governorship candidate in Oyo State, Oriyomi Hamzat, has claimed that he was among those who brought Governor Seyi Makinde into the Oyo governorship race.

Hamzat also said he deserved credit for the achievements of Makinde’s administration because he supported him when he was seeking to become governor.

The broadcaster made the statement while speaking to members of the Accord Party in Ibadan on Saturday.

Hamzat and Makinde were previously close political allies, but their relationship has become strained as both men now have different political interests ahead of the 2027 general election.

Hamzat, who is popular for his interventionist radio programme, “Kokoro Alate”, said he supported Makinde’s governorship ambition because he believed he would work for the people of Oyo State.

He, however, complained that he was not being recognised for his role in helping Makinde come to power.

“Seyi Makinde has reformed Oyo. Hence, we are not following you. Who brought Seyi Makinde? I was the one. I was one of those that brought him and supported him as governor.

“All those good things, why don’t you give me the credit? Why is it that it is the unpleasant side that people are using to attack me?

“Those opposition parties now, when they want to speak, they will claim that he did wonderful things. Why not credit me for those ones too?” he said.

Hamzat said his support for Makinde was never based on contracts or personal benefits.

He explained that he only wanted the people of Oyo State to recognise that the person he introduced to them was doing a good job.

“People have called me an ungrateful person. How? Is it not the same Oriyomi that came to you to campaign for him? The belief you have in me showed in the result of the election.

“I’m not following government because of contracts. I had an agreement with the government that I support that they will take care of the masses. No transactional relationship whatsoever.

“I just want the people to applaud me that the person I introduced to them is performing well,” Hamzat said.
The disagreement between Hamzat and Makinde comes ahead of the 2027 elections.

Makinde, who is serving his second term as governor of Oyo State, has joined the Allied Peoples Movement and is pursuing a presidential ambition for the 2027 election.

As part of his political plans in Oyo State, Makinde has also backed former Commissioner for Finance during the administration of the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Bimbo Adekanmbi, as his preferred candidate to succeed him as governor.

The APM later adopted Adekanmbi as its consensus governorship candidate.
Hamzat, however, is pursuing his own political ambition on the platform of the Accord Party.

He declared his intention to contest the Oyo governorship election in January and later obtained the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms.

His emergence as the Accord candidate has added to the political competition in Oyo State, particularly as he is now challenging the succession plan backed by Makinde.

The political differences have also come amid controversies involving Hamzat and the state government.

In June, the Oyo State Police Command raided a residence linked to Surajudeen Babatunde Adio, popularly known as Suri Ilupeju, in the Gbeku area of Olodo, Ibadan.

The police said five suspects were arrested during the operation. They also said firearms, ammunition, a locally made bulletproof vest, suspected charms and other items were recovered.

Suri, who the police described as a former member of the Park Management System, was said to be at large.

The incident later became a subject of political controversy after some people attempted to link Suri to Hamzat.

Hamzat denied the allegation, describing it as a smear campaign aimed at damaging his political ambition.

He said he had never sponsored, encouraged, protected or supported anyone involved in criminal activities.

He also called on security agencies to carry out their investigations without involving innocent people.

Speaking on the Ibadan Circular Road and the 1,000-metre corridor project, Hamzat promised that he would open the road to the public if elected governor, regardless of the stage of construction.

He, however, said construction work on the project would not continue until proper compensation had been paid to residents and other people affected by the project.