Former Commissioner of Police in Lagos and Benue states, Fatai Owoseni, has officially joined the Accord Party and obtained his declaration of interest and nomination forms ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State.
Owoseni completed the process at the Accord Party secretariat in Ibadan, where he declared that his political ambition would not be driven by vote-buying, political intimidation or the monetisation of the electoral process.
The retired police commissioner said Nigeria’s political system would continue to suffer setbacks if elections remained dominated by money politics and individuals seeking power for personal gain.
According to him, leadership should be about service, integrity and value addition rather than financial inducement.
“If I sell my car, sell my house or steal government money to share to people just because I want votes, then the people themselves will suffer in the end,” Owoseni said.
“We must stop reducing politics to money-sharing. Good people must come into politics if we truly want development.
Owoseni described his entry into partisan politics as a continuation of his lifelong commitment to public service, noting that he spent 35 years serving Nigeria through the police force and still remains committed to contributing to the growth of Oyo State after retirement.
“To me, it is about value addition and continuous service to humanity. Even after retirement, I chose to remain close to my people and my state because I still have something to offer,” he stated.
The former police boss lamented what he described as poor leadership across the country despite the abundance of talented and hardworking Nigerians excelling globally.
“Nigerians are doing great things across the world because we have capable people. The major problem holding us back is leadership. We cannot continue complaining without responsible people getting involved in governance,” he said.
Owoseni also stressed that politics should not be left entirely in the hands of career politicians, insisting that professionals and credible individuals must participate actively in shaping governance and public policies.
He said his ambition is focused on improving the welfare of the people, strengthening public institutions and ensuring continuity in developmental projects across Oyo State.
According to him, Oyo State has the potential to reclaim its place as one of Nigeria’s leading states if leaders remain committed to sustainable policies, quality education and improved living standards for civil servants.
“Who says we cannot improve the lives of our civil servants? Who says our public schools cannot become strong enough that private schools become optional? Development must be continuous and self-sustaining,” he added.
Speaking on political endorsements and structures ahead of the 2027 election, Owoseni downplayed the significance of elite endorsements, saying true political strength lies with the people.
“It is now common to hear politicians say this person endorsed me or that person supports me. But real politics is about genuine connection with the people and building a movement,” he noted.
The governorship aspirant also used the occasion to call on Nigerians to reject corruption and transactional politics, warning that the future of the country depends on electing leaders with competence, integrity and genuine passion for service.
