​OYETOLA’S LEADERSHIP, LEGACY DESERVE FAIRER ASSESSMENT — SHAMSHUDEEN OYEWUYI

By Shamshudeen Oyewuyi

A stakeholder in the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Shamshudeen Oyewuyi, has called for a more balanced assessment of the leadership and political legacy of former Osun State Governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.

Oyewuyi made the call in an open letter addressed to the former governor, in which he defended Oyetola against what he described as years of “unfair criticism, insinuations and unsubstantiated allegations.”

According to him, Oyetola’s record should be assessed on the basis of facts, achievements and the collective circumstances surrounding the political developments in Osun State, rather than through the prism of personal grievances or political disagreements.

Oyewuyi argued that it was unfair to attribute the APC’s defeat in the 2022 governorship election entirely to Oyetola, noting that the former governor was the party’s candidate and therefore had one of the greatest stakes in securing victory.

He said a proper evaluation of the election should also examine the roles played by party leaders, campaign structures, political actors and other stakeholders whose decisions, according to him, contributed to the eventual outcome.

The APC stakeholder also recalled Oyetola’s political contributions to electoral victories in Lagos State and his role in the party’s successful 2014 governorship campaign in Osun State.

He argued that Oyetola’s political style should not be interpreted as a lack of political capacity simply because it differs from the approach adopted by some other politicians.

Oyewuyi further commended Oyetola for what he described as his willingness to accommodate different political interests during his tenure as governor.

He particularly cited Oyetola’s decision to bring Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji into government and subsequently support his emergence as the APC’s governorship candidate for the 2026 election.

“If your overriding ambition had been simply to perpetuate yourself as the unquestionable leader of the APC in Osun State, Oyebamiji would not have emerged as our standard-bearer,” Oyewuyi stated.

He maintained that the development demonstrated what he described as Oyetola’s willingness to prioritise the broader interest of the party over personal political succession.

Oyewuyi also acknowledged that Oyetola, like every political leader, may have made mistakes, particularly in relying on some trusted associates who were later unable to deliver effectively on responsibilities delegated to them.

However, he argued that accountability should be collective and should not amount to making one individual the scapegoat for every failure recorded by an administration or political organisation.

The writer also addressed the controversies surrounding Oyetola’s relationship with former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, noting that the details of the disagreement between both political figures were complex and largely beyond the understanding of outsiders.

He urged party members to avoid reducing complicated political developments to simplistic narratives or personal accusations.

On Oyetola’s performance as governor, Oyewuyi said he remained convinced that the former governor performed creditably, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, economic management and political stability.

He acknowledged the criticisms surrounding salary arrears and the state’s debt profile but argued that such issues should be assessed alongside the circumstances Oyetola inherited and the developmental priorities pursued by his administration.

The APC stakeholder also criticised the implementation of some social intervention programmes associated with Oyetola’s administration, including the monthly food distribution initiative.

While describing the programme as commendable in concept, he argued that shortcomings in implementation should be attributed to those responsible for execution rather than automatically blamed on the political leadership that provided the policy direction and resources.

Oyewuyi further urged Oyetola to reflect on the lessons of recent political developments and broaden his political caucus to accommodate more committed and selfless individuals.

He called for greater access to the former governor and encouraged the inclusion of people capable of creating opportunities for a wider section of the party’s membership.

“Leadership must create a sense of belonging,” he said, stressing that political appointments should be used not only to reward loyalty but also to build stronger structures and empower capable people.

Oyewuyi said his intervention was not motivated by a desire for personal favour, stressing that his intention was to defend what he believes to be a fairer historical assessment of Oyetola’s political career.

“I do not write to flatter you. I have never approached you primarily for personal favours, and I do not do so now,” he said.

He urged Oyetola to remain steadfast, learn from past experiences and surround himself with individuals whose commitment to his leadership and the APC is based on conviction rather than personal interests.

He also pledged continued support for Oyetola’s leadership and for the political project of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Oyewuyi concluded by expressing confidence that history would ultimately provide a more balanced assessment of Oyetola’s contributions to Osun State and the wider political development of Nigeria.