The Chief Executive Officer of Agidigbo FM, Ibadan, Oriyomi Hamzat, has declared his readiness to contest in the 2027 Oyo State gubernatorial election, responding to criticisms and discouragement from a caller during a live programme on his radio station.
The exchange occurred during a special edition of the station’s popular programme, So Kàn Wá Special, where Hamzat engaged in a heated conversation with a caller who questioned the viability of his alleged political ambition.
In the 7-minute, 20-second conversation, gotten from a Facebook user, Ibrahim Hameed Afolabi, the unidentified caller advised Hamzat against contesting, insisting that the people he believes would support him would be the first to betray him at the polls.
“Don’t bother to contest,” the caller said. “The same people you think will vote for you are the ones who will stab you first. Nigerians only care about buying and selling when it’s time to vote.”
Drawing a comparison, the caller said, “If someone like Omoyele Sowore, a known human rights activist, contests and wins, then maybe you stand a chance. But as it stands, forget it. People don’t vote for competence; they vote for money.”
Hamzat, visibly undeterred, fired back, affirming that his decision to contest or not remains a personal choice, and if he eventually contests, victory is assured.
“If I choose to contest, it is my decision, and if I choose not to, it is still my decision. But if I do contest, I will win,” Hamzat declared.
He added that people should stop advising him on whether or not to enter the race.
“I’ve heard people telling me not to run. That’s not their call to make. When I supported and campaigned for Governor Seyi Makinde, people began calling me a politician. Now, if I decide to run, that’s on me.”
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Hamzat also criticised the attitude of some political players who only appear close to election periods with money to sway voters, without understanding or addressing the people’s real struggles.
“People like you are the ones who return home during elections and entice the masses with money. You don’t know or understand the plight of the people,” he told the caller.
While Hamzat has yet to formally declare his candidacy, his statements during the broadcast have stirred renewed interest and speculation about his political future in Oyo State.
