Akere Okikiola Bashir.

THE PARTISAN HYPOCRISY OF POLICY VALIDATION: THE IBADAN CIRCULAR ROAD DEBATE

The escalating discourse surrounding the Ibadan Circular Road project has exposed a glaring double standard in Oyo State's political commentary. The sudden shift in public perception regarding the corridor's setback rules and compensation timeline serves as a textbook example of partisan alignment proof that, for many political commentators, the messenger entirely eclipses the message.

THE CASE FOR ALHAJI (DR.) ORIYOMI HAMZAT, ACCORD GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: VINDICATION OF GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY

For months, broadcaster, ACCORD gubernatorial candidate, and independent advocate Alhaji (Dr.) Oriyomi Hamzat championed the cause of the mekunus ordinary citizens facing mass displacement along the 110-kilometre corridor. When Hamzat publicly demanded that the state reduce the aggressive 500-metre setback to a humane 75 metres, and halt demolition activities until fair compensation was paid, he was met with immediate, coordinated hostility.

Administration loyalists and digital media operatives labelled him "anti-development," "clueless," and "archaic." His arguments were dismissed by critics as populist grandstanding designed to obstruct critical state infrastructure. Yet Hamzat's consistent focus on prioritising human lives over unchecked concrete has now been vindicated by recent executive action. His position was not flawed it was simply ahead of its time, and delivered by a voice outside the corridors of power.

THE GOVERNOR'S REVERSAL AND THE PRAISE-SINGING PARADOX

The hypocrisy of the political ecosystem became undeniable following Governor Seyi Makinde's appearance on Fresh FM's Crossfire Exclusive on October 11, 2026. During the broadcast, the governor made two major policy declarations that mirrored the exact demands previously championed by Hamzat and the affected communities.

First, on the setback: the governor announced plans to formally gazette a 75-metre setback for built-up areas along the road corridor precisely the figure Hamzat had been advocating for months.

Second, on compensation: the governor committed to disbursing ₦6.7 billion in compensation to affected property owners, with payment to begin immediately and conclude before the end of October 2026.

The public reaction from the governor's supporters underwent an instant, dramatic transformation. The very same policy positions once branded as "sabotage" when proposed by Hamzat are now being hailed as "brilliant," "compassionate," and a masterclass in responsive leadership, now that they have been enacted by the governor himself. The phrase "That's my governor!" echoed across digital spaces in praise of a policy framework that was vilified just weeks prior.

Measured against this reversal, the pattern is unmistakable: the same 75-metre setback that was attacked as impractical and short-sighted when Hamzat proposed it is now being hailed as an empathetic, people-first concession now that the governor has adopted it. The same call to suspend demolitions until compensation was paid, once mocked as an unrealistic attempt to stall development, is now being celebrated as responsible, humane governance.

TAKEAWAYS FOR THE CIRCULAR ROAD VICTIMS

This episode offers important lessons for the people directly affected by this project.

First, on selective memory in politics: the praise-singers have proven that political loyalty often overrides objective truth. Policies are too often evaluated not on whether they protect the public, but on who ultimately receives the credit.

Second, on where this victory truly belongs: while the administration's supporters now sing its praises, the actual policy shift represents a direct vindication of independent voices like Alhaji (Dr.) Oriyomi Hamzat, ACCORD Gubernatorial Candidate, and of the resilient landlords who refused to be silenced. The government did not arrive at this position out of unprompted benevolence; it responded to the sustained weight of grassroots advocacy and public pressure.

Third, on human rights versus political convenience: infrastructure must never be built on the uncompensated hardship of citizens' livelihoods. While political actors may shift their rhetoric to suit the moment, the fundamental benchmark of good governance remains constant development must have a human face.

Oyo Ẹ RONÚ.
ORIYOMI DÈ! ODÒDÓ DÈ! 🔥

Akere Okikiola Babatunde
Omo Beyioku Okunola Akere, Oritamerin, Ibadan

Mayor Ààrẹ Olabode Anisoloja Oriyomi Hamzat Live

Pressure tiwa APM what's going on

TEACHERS’ DAY MESSAGE

Every 5th of October is celebrated as World Teachers’ Day. Today is also that day.

It gives me the opportunity to come and greet all of you teachers across Nigeria, especially teachers in Oyo State.

As someone who has been your son and has been connected with you for a long time, I want to use this opportunity to speak to you, teachers in Oyo State.

Many years have passed and much has happened. Some of our mothers and fathers who were teachers may have retired, while some of you are still in service. They know that Oriyomi Hamzat is also a son of teachers.

Therefore, as I greet you today and wish you a happy Teachers’ Day, I want to make you remember that your son, Oriyomi Hamzat, has various programmes and plans for teachers and all public servants in Oyo State, if you give us the opportunity to serve Oyo State and work together with you, teachers of Oyo State.

One of these is the payment of salaries for teachers and all public servants. Salary payment is one of the major things that public servants depend on to move forward in their lives.

There are many things that teachers need.

A teacher, for example, is someone whose work covers and supports virtually every other profession and every other public servant.

Teachers in Oyo State, do you receive your salaries as and when due?

What about the things that make your work easier and make you enjoy your profession?

What should be available in the schools where you teach our children?

Are these things available?

Are you satisfied with them?

Is it not the case that we have classrooms where rain comes in and affects teaching and learning?

Are there not classrooms that are in such poor condition that they become uncomfortable and difficult to use?

Are there not classrooms where children sit on the floor because there are no desks or chairs?

When this happens, the children are not given the opportunity to properly listen to and understand what the teacher is saying.

Teachers in Oyo State, look at the schools where you teach our children. These schools are your offices.

Do they look good enough for visitors to come and see?

Are there enough things there to make it comfortable and suitable for you to teach our children?

Teachers in Oyo State, do you have opportunities for different forms of training?

Do you have access to conferences?

Do you have access to both local and international seminars?

Do you have opportunities to travel to places where you can learn more about your profession and acquire knowledge that will make your work easier?

Teachers in Oyo State, look at the schools where you teach our children.

Do they have proper fencing around them?

Are the school premises properly secured in a way that makes you feel that this is a safe place where you teach children?

Is your safety adequately protected?

Teachers in Oyo State, if all these things are put in place, I want to remind you again about the programmes that will be introduced under the government of your son, Oriyomi Hamzat.

It will bring a lot of benefits to you if you give us the opportunity.

For example, if you receive your salary properly and as at when due, will you not see yourself as a teacher who has been given proper attention?

There are different residential areas and estates across Oyo State.

There are different Government Residential Areas, popularly known as GRAs, and different estates.

The government that you want to bring into office, a government that belongs to you, will create opportunities for teachers to own their own homes.

All teachers in Oyo State will have the opportunity to benefit from housing arrangements known as TRA — Teachers’ Residential Area.

Teachers alone will have access to the houses provided under this arrangement.

This is not something meant for politicians or for people who are already privileged.

Teachers in Oyo State, should you work for thirty years or thirty-five years and still be struggling to build houses all over the place?

After dedicating your productive years to teaching and serving the state, you deserve a system that gives you an opportunity to have decent accommodation.

Teachers in Oyo State, I congratulate you.

I salute you and I wish you well.

Once our government provides the appropriate environment, the necessary resources and the conditions that will make you happy and comfortable in your work, you will be able to perform your duties better.

We will also establish proper welfare and healthcare arrangements for teachers.

There will be proper attention to your welfare and housing while you are in service.

And when you eventually leave the service, there will be a system for taking care of you.

This will be different from what is obtainable for many other people.

Teachers, you are the people who teach teachers.

You are the ones who teach judges.

You are the ones who teach doctors.

Before anyone becomes a governor, that person must first pass through a teacher.

Every person who becomes a professional or a leader has, at one point, passed through the hands of a teacher.

For this reason, the teaching profession should not be regarded as an inferior profession in our society.

Unfortunately, when people pray for their children, they often say:

“May my child become a lawyer.”

“May my child become a judge.”

“May my child become a doctor.”

But we rarely hear people pray:

“May my child become a teacher.”

This is because the teaching profession has been undervalued in our society.

That should not be so.

For this reason, we have a proper plan for you, including a proper housing scheme while you are in service.

And when you eventually leave the service, there should also be proper arrangements for your welfare.

The money that government workers are entitled to after retirement, which has sometimes been delayed for a long time, should no longer be delayed under our government.

Whatever we do, we will put it on record and ensure that it has a clear purpose.

The people will see that our government is being run with honesty and accountability.

Teachers in Oyo State, on the day you leave service as a civil servant of the Oyo State Government, that should not be the day you lose access to your entitlements.

On that day, you should receive your benefits, including what is known as gratuity.

Some people may think that paying these benefits is too difficult or too expensive.

But it is not impossible for a government that is committed to doing things honestly.

It is only difficult for a government that does not have the will or commitment to do what is right.

That is why we are telling you, teachers in Oyo State, that we recognise your importance.

Today, we greet you and say:

Happy Teachers’ Day.

We also wish you well and look forward to a government that will serve you better when the time comes in 2027.

Speech by: Oriyomi Hamzat
Translated and rewritten into English by: Akere Okikiola Babatunde Part 12

TEACHERS’ DAY MESSAGE

Every 5th of October is celebrated as World Teachers’ Day. Today is also that day.

It gives me the opportunity to come and greet all of you teachers across Nigeria, especially teachers in Oyo State.

As someone who has been your son and has been connected with you for a long time, I want to use this opportunity to speak to you, teachers in Oyo State.

Many years have passed and much has happened. Some of our mothers and fathers who were teachers may have retired, while some of you are still in service. They know that Oriyomi Hamzat is also a son of teachers.

Therefore, as I greet you today and wish you a happy Teachers’ Day, I want to make you remember that your son, Oriyomi Hamzat, has various programmes and plans for teachers and all public servants in Oyo State, if you give us the opportunity to serve Oyo State and work together with you, teachers of Oyo State.

One of these is the payment of salaries for teachers and all public servants. Salary payment is one of the major things that public servants depend on to move forward in their lives.

There are many things that teachers need.

A teacher, for example, is someone whose work covers and supports virtually every other profession and every other public servant.

Teachers in Oyo State, do you receive your salaries as and when due?

What about the things that make your work easier and make you enjoy your profession?

What should be available in the schools where you teach our children?

Are these things available?

Are you satisfied with them?

Is it not the case that we have classrooms where rain comes in and affects teaching and learning?

Are there not classrooms that are in such poor condition that they become uncomfortable and difficult to use?

Are there not classrooms where children sit on the floor because there are no desks or chairs?

When this happens, the children are not given the opportunity to properly listen to and understand what the teacher is saying.

Teachers in Oyo State, look at the schools where you teach our children. These schools are your offices.

Do they look good enough for visitors to come and see?

Are there enough things there to make it comfortable and suitable for you to teach our children?

Teachers in Oyo State, do you have opportunities for different forms of training?

Do you have access to conferences?

Do you have access to both local and international seminars?

Do you have opportunities to travel to places where you can learn more about your profession and acquire knowledge that will make your work easier?

Teachers in Oyo State, look at the schools where you teach our children.

Do they have proper fencing around them?

Are the school premises properly secured in a way that makes you feel that this is a safe place where you teach children?

Is your safety adequately protected?

Teachers in Oyo State, if all these things are put in place, I want to remind you again about the programmes that will be introduced under the government of your son, Oriyomi Hamzat.

It will bring a lot of benefits to you if you give us the opportunity.

For example, if you receive your salary properly and as at when due, will you not see yourself as a teacher who has been given proper attention?

There are different residential areas and estates across Oyo State.

There are different Government Residential Areas, popularly known as GRAs, and different estates.

The government that you want to bring into office, a government that belongs to you, will create opportunities for teachers to own their own homes.

All teachers in Oyo State will have the opportunity to benefit from housing arrangements known as TRA — Teachers’ Residential Area.

Teachers alone will have access to the houses provided under this arrangement.

This is not something meant for politicians or for people who are already privileged.

Teachers in Oyo State, should you work for thirty years or thirty-five years and still be struggling to build houses all over the place?

After dedicating your productive years to teaching and serving the state, you deserve a system that gives you an opportunity to have decent accommodation.

Teachers in Oyo State, I congratulate you.

I salute you and I wish you well.

Once our government provides the appropriate environment, the necessary resources and the conditions that will make you happy and comfortable in your work, you will be able to perform your duties better.

We will also establish proper welfare and healthcare arrangements for teachers.

There will be proper attention to your welfare and housing while you are in service.

And when you eventually leave the service, there will be a system for taking care of you.

This will be different from what is obtainable for many other people.

Teachers, you are the people who teach teachers.

You are the ones who teach judges.

You are the ones who teach doctors.

Before anyone becomes a governor, that person must first pass through a teacher.

Every person who becomes a professional or a leader has, at one point, passed through the hands of a teacher.

For this reason, the teaching profession should not be regarded as an inferior profession in our society.

Unfortunately, when people pray for their children, they often say:

“May my child become a lawyer.”

“May my child become a judge.”

“May my child become a doctor.”

But we rarely hear people pray:

“May my child become a teacher.”

This is because the teaching profession has been undervalued in our society.

That should not be so.

For this reason, we have a proper plan for you, including a proper housing scheme while you are in service.

And when you eventually leave the service, there should also be proper arrangements for your welfare.

The money that government workers are entitled to after retirement, which has sometimes been delayed for a long time, should no longer be delayed under our government.

Whatever we do, we will put it on record and ensure that it has a clear purpose.

The people will see that our government is being run with honesty and accountability.

Teachers in Oyo State, on the day you leave service as a civil servant of the Oyo State Government, that should not be the day you lose access to your entitlements.

On that day, you should receive your benefits, including what is known as gratuity.

Some people may think that paying these benefits is too difficult or too expensive.

But it is not impossible for a government that is committed to doing things honestly.

It is only difficult for a government that does not have the will or commitment to do what is right.

That is why we are telling you, teachers in Oyo State, that we recognise your importance.

Today, we greet you and say:

Happy Teachers’ Day.

We also wish you well and look forward to a government that will serve you better when the time comes in 2027.

Speech by: Oriyomi Hamzat
Translated and rewritten into English by: Akere Okikiola Babatunde Part 11

TEACHERS’ DAY MESSAGE

Every 5th of October is celebrated as World Teachers’ Day. Today is also that day.

It gives me the opportunity to come and greet all of you teachers across Nigeria, especially teachers in Oyo State.

As someone who has been your son and has been connected with you for a long time, I want to use this opportunity to speak to you, teachers in Oyo State.

Many years have passed and much has happened. Some of our mothers and fathers who were teachers may have retired, while some of you are still in service. They know that Oriyomi Hamzat is also a son of teachers.

Therefore, as I greet you today and wish you a happy Teachers’ Day, I want to make you remember that your son, Oriyomi Hamzat, has various programmes and plans for teachers and all public servants in Oyo State, if you give us the opportunity to serve Oyo State and work together with you, teachers of Oyo State.

One of these is the payment of salaries for teachers and all public servants. Salary payment is one of the major things that public servants depend on to move forward in their lives.

There are many things that teachers need.

A teacher, for example, is someone whose work covers and supports virtually every other profession and every other public servant.

Teachers in Oyo State, do you receive your salaries as and when due?

What about the things that make your work easier and make you enjoy your profession?

What should be available in the schools where you teach our children?

Are these things available?

Are you satisfied with them?

Is it not the case that we have classrooms where rain comes in and affects teaching and learning?

Are there not classrooms that are in such poor condition that they become uncomfortable and difficult to use?

Are there not classrooms where children sit on the floor because there are no desks or chairs?

When this happens, the children are not given the opportunity to properly listen to and understand what the teacher is saying.

Teachers in Oyo State, look at the schools where you teach our children. These schools are your offices.

Do they look good enough for visitors to come and see?

Are there enough things there to make it comfortable and suitable for you to teach our children?

Teachers in Oyo State, do you have opportunities for different forms of training?

Do you have access to conferences?

Do you have access to both local and international seminars?

Do you have opportunities to travel to places where you can learn more about your profession and acquire knowledge that will make your work easier?

Teachers in Oyo State, look at the schools where you teach our children.

Do they have proper fencing around them?

Are the school premises properly secured in a way that makes you feel that this is a safe place where you teach children?

Is your safety adequately protected?

Teachers in Oyo State, if all these things are put in place, I want to remind you again about the programmes that will be introduced under the government of your son, Oriyomi Hamzat.

It will bring a lot of benefits to you if you give us the opportunity.

For example, if you receive your salary properly and as at when due, will you not see yourself as a teacher who has been given proper attention?

There are different residential areas and estates across Oyo State.

There are different Government Residential Areas, popularly known as GRAs, and different estates.

The government that you want to bring into office, a government that belongs to you, will create opportunities for teachers to own their own homes.

All teachers in Oyo State will have the opportunity to benefit from housing arrangements known as TRA — Teachers’ Residential Area.

Teachers alone will have access to the houses provided under this arrangement.

This is not something meant for politicians or for people who are already privileged.

Teachers in Oyo State, should you work for thirty years or thirty-five years and still be struggling to build houses all over the place?

After dedicating your productive years to teaching and serving the state, you deserve a system that gives you an opportunity to have decent accommodation.

Teachers in Oyo State, I congratulate you.

I salute you and I wish you well.

Once our government provides the appropriate environment, the necessary resources and the conditions that will make you happy and comfortable in your work, you will be able to perform your duties better.

We will also establish proper welfare and healthcare arrangements for teachers.

There will be proper attention to your welfare and housing while you are in service.

And when you eventually leave the service, there will be a system for taking care of you.

This will be different from what is obtainable for many other people.

Teachers, you are the people who teach teachers.

You are the ones who teach judges.

You are the ones who teach doctors.

Before anyone becomes a governor, that person must first pass through a teacher.

Every person who becomes a professional or a leader has, at one point, passed through the hands of a teacher.

For this reason, the teaching profession should not be regarded as an inferior profession in our society.

Unfortunately, when people pray for their children, they often say:

“May my child become a lawyer.”

“May my child become a judge.”

“May my child become a doctor.”

But we rarely hear people pray:

“May my child become a teacher.”

This is because the teaching profession has been undervalued in our society.

That should not be so.

For this reason, we have a proper plan for you, including a proper housing scheme while you are in service.

And when you eventually leave the service, there should also be proper arrangements for your welfare.

The money that government workers are entitled to after retirement, which has sometimes been delayed for a long time, should no longer be delayed under our government.

Whatever we do, we will put it on record and ensure that it has a clear purpose.

The people will see that our government is being run with honesty and accountability.

Teachers in Oyo State, on the day you leave service as a civil servant of the Oyo State Government, that should not be the day you lose access to your entitlements.

On that day, you should receive your benefits, including what is known as gratuity.

Some people may think that paying these benefits is too difficult or too expensive.

But it is not impossible for a government that is committed to doing things honestly.

It is only difficult for a government that does not have the will or commitment to do what is right.

That is why we are telling you, teachers in Oyo State, that we recognise your importance.

Today, we greet you and say:

Happy Teachers’ Day.

We also wish you well and look forward to a government that will serve you better when the time comes in 2027.

Speech by: Oriyomi Hamzat
Translated and rewritten into English by: Akere Okikiola Babatunde Part 10