— Oriyomi Hamzat’s Saturday’s formal declaration to contest in the next Oyo State governorship Election has added a new dynamic to the state’s political space.
Whether or not he eventually emerges as the candidate of any of the major political parties, one thing appears certain, he is already carving out a distinct political niche for himself.
With hundreds of loyal followers and strong grassroots appeal, Oriyomi is positioning himself as a political leader and influencer whose relevance could extend to strategic alliances in the coming election.
Until the tragic case involving Timothy Adegoke and the Hilton Hotel owner, Rahman Adédoyin, I might not have paid much attention to who Oriyomi Hamzat was. However, that incident, beyond his long years in broadcasting has significantly amplified his public profile.
His vocal demand for justice for the late Timothy Adegoke and his family, which contributed to sustained public interest as Adédoyin and others were tried in court, placed him firmly in the national spotlight.
From that moment, his radio platform and online presence gained global attention, as many followed the case and other community-based investigative stories he championed.
Soon after, programmes like Kokoro Alate, another Oyo State based Yoruba dispute-resolution radio show, became widely popular as Clips from the show often went viral, turning into memes while simultaneously exposing uncomfortable societal issues and domestic conflicts.
Beyond broadcasting, Oriyomi’s philanthropic gestures further strengthened his connection with the public, as many turned his radio station premises into a refuge for assistance often leaving with some form of help.
His journey however has not been without controversy, including brushes with law enforcement over social issues, most notably the tragic Christmas stampede in Ibadan few years ago involving schoolchildren. In each instance, however, he was eventually cleared to face no trial.
Looking at this trajectory, it becomes clearer why Oriyomi Hamzat believes he is prepared for political leadership, even at the level of a governor.
He has shown strategic boldness over the years, from transforming his home-based online broadcasts into a full-blown terrestrial radio station, to establishing Agidigbo FM, a community radio platform that quickly shook Ibadan and commanded public attention.
Anticipating criticisms often faced by emerging political figures, he went further to formalize his education, enrolling at Uni and graduating from the prestigious University of Ibadan.
With his growing business resources, political connections particularly with Governor Seyi Makinde, and a carefully built public image, this ambition appears far from a joke. Oriyomi Hamzat is clearly up to something.
Whether he will succeed remains to be seen. Time, as always, will tell.
