Oriyomi Hamzat worked with Seyi Makinde and was duly compensated for his services. In fact, if we are talking about who helped whom, Seyi Makinde helped Oriyomi build his radio station. Makinde gave him the opportunity and support that contributed to the establishment of the radio station, and that is a matter that should not be twisted. Later on, Oriyomi was sponsored by Ilaji, reportedly with the expectation that he would step down for Ilaji’s governorship ambition. But Oriyomi refused to step down because he was already gaining momentum. When Seyi Makinde refused to support Ilaji’s governorship bid, Ilaji fell out with Makinde and moved towards the APC camp.
Ilaji may have thought he still had Oriyomi under his influence because of the investment allegedly made in him, but Oriyomi refused to listen to Ilaji because he had become popular and was gaining political momentum. Along the line, there were also allegations that Oriyomi became connected to people around the Abuja Presidency (the tax collector) and entered into financial transactions allegedly linked to endorsing the Presidency. One of the arguments being raised to support this narrative is that Accord has its own presidential candidate, yet Oriyomi endorsed the presidential candidate of another party, the APC. The alleged financial transactions remain allegations and should not be presented as established facts without evidence.
It is against this background that some people believe Ilaji called upon some Accord executives to take Oriyomi to court, allegedly with the intention of having him disqualified, after which Oriyomi and his supporters could work for the governorship candidate endorsed by Ilaji. The legal challenge to Oriyomi’s candidacy is now before the Federal High Court, where his emergence as Accord’s governorship candidate is being contested.
Therefore, if Oriyomi should eventually lose in court, nobody should blame Seyi Makinde. Oriyomi has chosen his own political path and entered into his own political alliances. Makinde helped him build his radio station, and that relationship had its own benefits and compensation. Whatever is happening to Oriyomi today should therefore be seen within the context of the political choices and alliances he has made since then. If he eventually loses in court, he would be facing his own political nemesis, and Seyi Makinde should not be made the scapegoat.
