Open Salawu: Ogbomoso’s Pride and a Proven Running Mate By Oyedeji Ahmed

“Together, we will take Oyo State to greater heights,” Engr. Muftau Open Salawu said during his acceptance speech after being unveiled as the Allied People’s Movement, APM, deputy governorship candidate on Wednesday at the PDP-APM office in Molete, Ibadan.

A man with an unmatched track record, and with a polished CV and extensive experience in public service since Abiola Ajimobi’s administration. He’s thoroughly equipped to complement Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi in accelerating the development of Oyo State and ensuring continuity of Omituntun 3.0.

There are times when people judge public figures based on hearsay. But I believe it is important to share personal experiences that shape perspective. Why share this now? Not because today is special, or because I seek favour. But because tomorrow matters.

No leader is perfect. Every public figure has strengths and weaknesses, supporters and critics. That is the reality of leadership. However, we must be careful not to define people solely by personal interests or isolated experiences. A person may not be good to everyone, but that does not mean they are not good to someone else.

My experience with Hon. Muftau Open Salawu dates back years, and it was positive. I met a man who listened, related well, encouraged, and supported a young man struggling to build a better life through God-given talent and planning for the future beyond government. What stood out was the nickname he gave me: “ABACHA,” perhaps because of my dark glasses or my serious approach to media work. Either way, it reflected his humility and accommodating nature.

Anyone who visits his office at the Agodi Secretariat will never be kept waiting or avoided. He will always meet with you, no matter how busy he is. I believe every son and daughter of Ogbomoso who has visited him will acknowledge his simplicity, approachability, and accommodating spirit. He will never chase you away or fail to identify with you. I have accounts of people from Ogbomoso who visited him in Ibadan some months ago without an appointment, yet he attended to them, related with them, and made them happy as they left. This simple act speaks volumes about Engr. Open Salawu’s disposition and humanity.

That humility, coupled with generosity and commitment to community development, mirrors the attributes of the current Deputy Governor, Barr. Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal. And Insha Allah, Open Salawu will step into those shoes in 2027.

This is my story, and everyone from Ogbomoso Zone who has met him deserves the opportunity to tell theirs. As a people, we must manage our differences, appreciate good gestures, and avoid destroying reputations because someone did not meet personal expectations. History is written not only by criticism but also by honest testimonies.

Yesterday at Molete, generosity, humility, professionalism, community service, and religious uprightness made Engr. Open Salawu a worthy running mate to APM governorship candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi. His unveiling as deputy governorship candidate was unanimously endorsed by Governor Seyi Makinde and other leaders from Ogbomoso Zone and across Oyo State. The wave of congratulations shows his broad acceptability.

As the Babalaje of Ogbomosoland, Engr. Muftau Open Salawu has been active in philanthropy, community service, and youth empowerment. Leadership is best entrusted to those who consistently demonstrate a heart for service, it is an open truth that Engr. Open Salawu embodies these qualities and represents the leadership Oyo deserves to deliver Governor Seyi Makinde’s vision for a modern Oyo State alongside the APM Governorship candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi.

Moulded by years of selfless service and sustained by public support, Open Salawu has proven himself a grassroots politician who understands the needs of the masses. His accessibility, humility, and dedication to community development have endeared him to many, positioning him as a worthy deputy governorship candidate from Ogbomoso Zone.

At a time when experience, unity, and people-oriented governance are essential, Open Salawu stands out as a leader who sees public office as service, not self-aggrandizement. That is why he rose from Executive Assistant to Chairman of Project Monitoring and Performance. His vision is anchored on inclusive governance, youth empowerment, infrastructural development, and the overall progress of Oyo State.

Yes, Open Salawu is described as an erudite engineer, pragmatic administrator, committed Muslim, community-driven leader, and devoted family man, but only few have acknowledged that his humanitarian gestures earned him widespread respect across Ogbomoso and beyond. And as a devout Muslim, he has shown religious tolerance through donations to both Muslim and Christian communities and support for the construction of mosques and other religious centres. His consistent financial and moral support for education endowment funds and developmental initiatives in Ogbomoso makes his nomination a welcome development.

This was evident when Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi described him at the unveiling that: “Engr. Open Salawu is a thoroughbred engineer who served as head of the state’s project monitoring team. According to him, all the projects residents are happy the government is providing, he has been monitoring them to meet standards.”

Adekanmbi added: “We have had Omituntun 1.0, accelerated development; Omituntun 2.0, sustainable development. Now we are going to Omituntun 3.0, continued development. It is only sensible that people who have been schooled, who have a track record in private and public sectors, take over from Governor Makinde. This is a team ready for governance from day one. We are selling value, competence and loyalty to Oyo State. We are promising security of lives and property. It is a coalition of PDP and APM.”

“These challenges can only be overcome by a sound team, and that is what Bimbo and Open Salawu will represent. The combination is the best for Oyo State. It is a natural combination that any right-thinking person who loves the state will tap into,” he said.

With these remarks, Adekanmbi’s choice of Open Salawu is clearly the best among his peers. And I am doubly sure that every son and daughter of Ogbomoso would be proud of this pick. Since the unveiling, congratulatory messages have poured in from PDP, APM, and even APC supporters who see him as the most fit for the job. With his combination with Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, Oyo is in safe hands.

So, I doubt any Ogbomoso political leader within APM or PDP will remain hostile to Open Salawu’s nomination as deputy governorship candidate. Instead, they should unite for the actualization of Omituntun 3.0.

To be continued…….

Oyedeji Ahmed, LMP, writes from Ibadan

Lest We forget: With Makinde’s Reform, Pensioners Now Have A New Lease Of Life

by InsideOyo

July 7, 2026

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju On Tuesday, June 26, 2018 in Ibadan, the Oyo State High Court corridors were filled not with lawyers in crisp suits, but with weary and worried pensioners clutching faded documents. Their faces told stories of decades of service in classrooms and council offices, now overshadowed by years of waiting. It was the hearing of a suit filed by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo State Council, against the then governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, and five other top officials of the state. The union had dragged the government before the High Court over ₦42.3 billion unpaid gratuities and pensions for retired primary school teachers and local government pensioners. The figure was staggering, but for the retirees, it was beyond mere numbers; it was meals they couldn’t afford, the medication they couldn’t access, the responsibilities they couldn’t meet, and the dignity they had lost. The union’s counsel, Lasun Sanusi (SAN), painted a grim picture of the pensioners’ plight before Justice Maruf Adegbola. He said: “Primary school teachers and local government pensioners are dying almost daily because they cannot afford medications for their health challenges.” The courtroom fell silent, the words echoing the desperation of thousands of senior citizens. Outside, the pensioners gathered in clusters, some leaning on walking sticks, others supported by their children. They spoke of promises broken, of agreements to pay arrears in instalments that never materialised. Representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress stood with them, amplifying their cries for justice. Speaking at a press conference, the then state chairman of the union, Comrade Gbadegesin Akande, said the decision to institute a suit against the governor and others was a consequence of the roguish disposition of the government towards pensioners’ welfare, which resulted in the hoary heads, who had invested their youthful years in the service of the state, being subjected to agonising hardship and excruciating denigration. He explained that their recourse to the courts became a Hobson’s choice following the failure of the government to attend to the series of letters that had been written, endless pleas that had been made, and even countless protests that the union had embarked upon to get the government to address its plight. But despite their resort to litigation, not much changed for the pensioners; pensions were still owed and gratuities were still unpaid. At another press conference jointly addressed by the Secretary of the NUP, Comrade Segun Abatan, and the Secretary of the Association of Retired Primary School Teachers, Comrade Tunji Ogunwale, on May 4, 2019, the duo lamented the plight of pensioners and accused the outgoing administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of owing N62.5bn in pensions and gratuities. Speaking at the press conference, Comrade Ogunwale said: “Today, Oyo State Government is owing us N62.5billion. That is the amount of gratuities left unpaid. I am personally being owed 35 months pension arrears. They are owing some of us 60 months, some 55 and some 40 months. It varies from eight to 60 months. He (Governor Ajimobi) has never paid anybody any gratuity in the last eight years. If we had not gone to court, that means he would not have deemed it fit to pay a dime for eight years.” So, for pensioners in Oyo State, up to May 2019, life was rough, tough and torturous. It was marked by hardship, uncertainty, and indignity. Many retirees who had served the state faithfully for decades suddenly found themselves struggling to survive, as their pensions and gratuities were either delayed or paid in fractions. The government owed billions in arrears, and the elderly were left to bear the brunt of financial neglect. Their plight became a recurring headline, with protests and court actions reflecting the depth of their suffering. For many of these senior citizens already in the twilight of their lives, with children already grown and independent, there was no steady support system. So, feeding became a major challenge and getting money to buy the needed medication for their ailments became a nightmare. Many retirees sold property to survive, and some even died while waiting for what was theirs. The situation robbed many of them of the dignity and honour of old age. They were forced into begging or, for those of them who could muster enough strength, taking up menial jobs as security guards or gatemen. But when Comrades Abatan and Ogunwale held the press conference in May 2019, little did they realise how close the pensioners were to the change they had always wanted. On the 29th of that month, while being inaugurated as the Executive Governor of Oyo State for the first tenure at the iconic Liberty Stadium, Engineer Seyi Makinde made a promise that no longer would pensions be delayed or paid in percentages in the state. He then donated his entire salary as governor to the state for pension payment. He also promised to clear the backlog of unpaid gratuities. That marked the beginning of the end of the woes that retired civil servants had been subjected to over the years. Governor Makinde kept his promise to the pensioners and began the implementation immediately. While full pensions were paid alongside workers’ salaries, the governor, in 2019, approved the release of ₦500m monthly for gratuity. This was later increased to N1bn monthly in 2024, N1.5bn in 2025, and eventually N3bn monthly in January 2026. Till date, over N25bn gratuity backlog has been cleared with almost 5,000 retirees benefiting. Makinde did not stop at that. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor approved the free enrolment of pensioners into the State Health Insurance Scheme, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to ensuring accessible and affordable healthcare for senior citizens. The governor also raised the minimum pension in the state to N25,000. In addition, Governor Makinde approved that all pension increases since 2007, such as the 33 percent pension increase of 2010 and the consequential adjustment of 2019, be factored into the pensions of affected pensioners. With that, Oyo State pensioners became the highest paid in the country. The consistency in pension payment and commitment to outstanding gratuity defrayment have transformed the life of many a pensioner. For many retirees, the moment they received their gratuity was life-changing. Mrs Modupe Akinola, a retired teacher said, “The day I got my gratuity, I cried.” She added, “It was like a burden lifted off my shoulders. I could finally repair my leaking roof.” Equally transformative was the prompt payment of monthly pensions. Unlike what it was in the pre-Makinde era, retirees no longer have to wait for months to receive fractions of their pension. Salaries and pensions are paid side by side, restoring confidence and stability. “I can now buy my drugs without borrowing,” said Mr. Adewale Oladipo, a retired civil servant. “Before, I used to skip medication because I couldn’t afford it. That nearly killed me.” To express their gratitude to Governor Seyi Makinde for his commitment to their welfare, members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Oyo State Council, organised an appreciation rally in front of the Governor’s Office, Oyo State Government Secretariat in 2025. Speaking at the rally, the Secretary, Comrade Olusegun Abatan, said: "16 years before you took over the mantle of government in Oyo State, pensioners had no government that was sympathetic and empathetic to their plights. Gratuities were not paid as and when due, pensions of those times were withheld or paid in instalments and all entreaties to the governments fell on deaf ears, resulting in massive deaths of our members. "At one point, Oyo State pensioners were referred to as dead people and in actual fact, we were dying like fowls afflicted by Newcastle disease. When you contested for the first term, we just wanted anybody that would liberate us from the shackles of death and we went ahead to vote en masse for you. We did the same thing when you threw your hat into the ring for a second term....