The career of prominent broadcast journalist Oriyomi Hamzat has taken a highly controversial turn as the media mogul faces the fallout of his recent choices in Oyo State politics. Known primarily as the owner and voice behind Agidigbo FM Ibadan, Hamzat decided to step out from behind the microphone and throw his weight directly into the electoral arena. However, his transition from a beloved radio presenter to a political player under the Accord Party banner has exposed him to harsh public scrutiny. This reality has culminated in a high-stakes standoff with Governor Seyi Makinde, leaving many to wonder if the legendary broadcaster has finally pushed his luck too far.
Ori okere kooko l’awo, bi a wi fun omo eni a gbo. When the owner of Agidigbo FM, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, began his now ill-fated foray into politics, many people knew what might be the untoward end of such a venture. In fact, one of his numerous listeners/viewers tried to advise him against taking the step. The popular response given by the presenter of the much-loved programme “Kokoro Alate” was that “why ti e ma advise mi ki nma jade, maa jade, maa si w’ole.”
True to his word as a courageous fighter and determined individual, Oriyomi Hamzat made true his grandstanding by throwing his hat into the ring to contest for the governorship seat of Oyo State. At that point, everyone knew that the Radio Man’s dog that fated to get lost would definitely not heed the hunter’s whistling.
I followed his political journey closely and I never ceased to tell whoever cared to listen that Oriyomi’s aspiration was just a joke being taken too far. When he joined the Accord Party, my hunch was confirmed that he was only a puppet and it didn’t take time before the public knew that a wealthy Ibadan man was behind the charade being displayed by Oriyomi.
As the saying goes that 1 + 1 in politics is not equal to 2, everyone kept waiting for the point that Oriyomi would quit his acting and his Ogbe would return oun to its owner. Sadly, however, words have it that he was outsmarted before he could even tell anyone to move closer to the microphone. According to words on the street, those more versed in politics taught Hamzat a bitter lesson with the emergence of Hon Busari Olakunle alias Goodu Goodu. Of course, bi iro ba lo ni Ogun odun, ojo kan ni otito a ba…
How Oriyomi Hamzat Courteed Security Controversy
My interest, really, is not about the way and manner Oriyomi Hamzat’s political chicken came home to roost. His boast “maa jade, maa si w’ole” won’t ever make me doubt that he is the next Oyo State Governor. My interest is the needless controversy that the man has begun to court by associating himself with an individual accused of armed robbery and then going ahead to make a wild claim that he might be targeted and that his Agidigbo FM Ibadan might be demolished based on trump-up charges.
For those who are not conversant with the story, seeing Oriyomi Hamzat’s video in which he made the allegation against the Oyo State Governor would make one wonder whether Governor Seyi Makinde would stoop that low to silence opposition. However, listening to Hamzat publicly associating himself with and dropping the name of a suspect declared wanted by the Oyo State Police Command would provide a clearer picture to the distress being experienced by the wannabe governorship aspirant.
Here is the story: a recent news story from the Oyo State Police Command indicated that they arrested five suspected armed robbers and recovered firearms, ammunition and suspected criminal charms during a raid on a hideout in Ibadan.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the suspects were arrested on June 12, 2026, during an intelligence-led operation carried out by operatives of the command at Gbeku Area, Olodo, Ibadan.
According to him, the operation targeted the residence of one Surajudeen Babatunde Adio, popularly known as “Surii Ilupeju,” following credible intelligence linking the location to criminal activities.
The Police Crackdown and Governor Seyi Makinde’s Stance
A few hours after the news of that arrest broke out, the social media became awash with photos of Oriyomi Hamzat moving with the said Ilupeju Surii in Accord Party regalia and some commentators hinted at how he, Surii, was/is Hamzat’s Chief Security Officer during his ill-fated governorship ambition.
On Tuesday, the Oyo State Government moved into Gbeku Area to demolish the building just as it did with the criminal hideout where the kidnappers of Oloye Adebayo Adelabu’s sister kept the woman and her twin sons.
In what would be a direct reaction to the demolition of the Gbeku house where the police said it found ammunition, Oriyomi Hamzat could be seen in the video criticising the governor for demolishing the home of an opposition politician. He also said that he knew Ilupeju Surii and that the said individual now at large joined his political movement. In a sane clime, Oriyomi would have been invited by the police to help their investigation on Surii and the other suspects, but the Radio Man would be on social media soon making another video about how Makinde would want to imprison him so that he (Oriyomi) would not defeat the APM Governorship Candidate at the polls.
The Legal Accountability Facing Oriyomi Hamzat
Everyone who knows Oriyomi knows that he loves controversy and he hates to be called to account for his errors, most times unforced and self-inflicted. He courted problems under former Governor Abiola Ajimobi and when that one tried to make him pay for his sins; he deployed sentiments and tried to turn the public against the government.
As good as his going was with Governor Seyi Makinde, his self-caused crisis that led to the death of scores of children in December 2023 soured that relationship, as the governor allowed the law to take its course despite pleas from many individuals. Now, Oriyomi Hamzat has called for another problem with the video. But like an Atobimaseebawi that he is, the Kokoro Alate maestro will make all the noise and try to pollute people’s minds so that he will not be called to order for making a nuisance of himself. Whether the public believes him or not is left to the public, but the Radio Man must know that his Ijimere has to so igi gun, especially with the pervasive insecurity in the country. If he uses his mouth to cause problem for himself, he should blame no one but himself.
*Ajao writes from Oyo
