The Osun State Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have clashed over allegations that the party’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, was involved in corruption linked to a $20 million World Bank primary healthcare grant and the alleged mismanagement of state-owned mining licences.
In a statement issued on Monday, the spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed, accused Oyebamiji of financial misconduct, anti-worker policies, and administrative failures during his tenure as Osun State Commissioner for Finance.
Rasheed said the Adeleke administration would expose what it described as the APC candidate’s controversial record ahead of the governorship campaign.
According to the statement, Oyebamiji’s public service career—spanning three key positions—shows a pattern of poor performance and questionable conduct.
“The APC candidate has three broad records on which his qualifications, competence, and suitability for the governorship can be assessed. By all standards, he failed the tests in those three areas,” the statement said.
The state government alleged that while serving as Finance Commissioner, Oyebamiji played a central role in the mismanagement of a $20 million World Bank primary healthcare grant, claiming the funds were eventually turned into a “slush fund” during the administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
It also accused him of mishandling Osun State’s mining licences, stating that the licences were on the verge of revocation before the current administration intervened.
The government further alleged that during his tenure as head of the Osun State Investment Company (OSICOL), Oyebamiji poorly managed state resources, particularly in relation to properties owned by the state in Lagos and Abuja.
The statement added that mining investments connected to the Segilola project were managed in a way that deprived the state of significant revenue until Governor Adeleke renegotiated the arrangement to restore Osun’s rightful earnings.
Additionally, the government accused Oyebamiji of approving the sale of the state’s stake in Omoluabi to a proxy company through what it described as a non-transparent process.
Beyond financial matters, the government claimed Oyebamiji backed policies that were harmful to workers, including the payment of half salaries and the failure to clear pension debts owed to retirees.
Rasheed also criticised Oyebamiji’s time as Managing Director of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), alleging that more than 1,000 deaths were recorded on inland waterways during his tenure due to safety lapses.
However, the APC dismissed the accusations as baseless.
The party’s Director of Media and Publicity in Osun State, Kola Olabisi, said Oyebamiji had never been involved in corruption and described the allegations as political theatrics.
“The allegations against our candidate are mere theatrics and completely untrue. He was never involved in any form of corruption. Those making such claims are simply jittery because our candidate is poised to win the upcoming election,” Olabisi said.
He added that the party would review the allegations and respond appropriately after consulting with its leadership.
“We will study the claims carefully, and when the party elders meet, we will address them properly. Anyone accusing Mr Oyebamiji is not being truthful,” he said in a phone interview.
The political atmosphere in Osun State continues to heat up ahead of the governorship election, with other parties also entering the fray. The Accord Party has accused the APC of attempting to pressure it politically, a claim the ruling party has denied.