The Osun Masterminds, TOM, has cautioned political actors in the state to maintain decorum ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
This is as the group also stressed that civility remains essential to a credible democratic process.
In its November State of the State address delivered by its Executive Director, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, TOM appealed to aspirants and their supporters to avoid inflammatory politics and focus on issue-based campaigns.
Prof. Oyedokun-Alli said the rising number of aspirants, particularly within the All Progressives Congress, APC, where over 11 contenders have declared interest, makes it imperative to prevent internal conflicts.
“We urge aspirants and their supporters to maintain civility, prioritise party unity, and engage in issue-based campaigns. Campaigns of calumny could damage party cohesion,” he said.
The group noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and several political leaders have repeatedly emphasised adherence to electoral laws to safeguard stability before, during, and after the polls.
“We urge political gladiators to abide by this call and preserve the oneness of our state. Unity is essential for grassroots mobilisation and reconciliation,” Prof. Oyedokun-Alli said.
Turning to governance, he expressed concern that state administration had become secondary to political manoeuvring ahead of the 2026 race thereby leaving key responsibilities unattended.
“It has been noticed that the Osun State government has neglected governance in pursuit of next year’s reelection bid. The governor is hardly seen, let alone heard,” he lamented.
The group also condemned what it described as excessive politicking by state officials and criticised the persistent confrontation between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress over the matter.
“We do not live in a banana republic. This is against the principles of democracy. It is unacceptable to sacrifice governance on the altar of political expediency,” Prof. Oyedokun-Alli said.
The group listed stalled recruitment of teachers and health workers, haphazard road construction, leadership issues in the Amotekun Corps, and lack of welfare support as areas where the government had fallen short.
It criticised the prolonged delay in the recruitment exercise, adding that the promise has become a charade, leaving schools and health facilities understaffed at a critical time.
On road infrastructure, the group lamented that residents were frustrated by endless meandering around roads being constructed for almost two to three years without clear timelines for completion.
It added that leadership problems within the Osun Amotekun Corps had paralysed its operations at a time when insecurity nationwide required heightened vigilance from all state security outfits.
Addressing local government issues, the group expressed dissatisfaction with the continued closure of local government secretariats, warning that key statutory functions such as healthcare, agriculture, sanitation, and revenue generation had been crippled.