Babajide Omoworare: A Blend of Virtue and Valour for a Progressive and Prosperous Osun State-Tunde Fadairo
My 2006 encounter with Senator Babajide Omoworare prior to the 2007 Elections is ever fresh, it was a mutually respected encounter without any form of inducement but exchange of charm and charisma between a student activist and a young, articulate progressive Lagos lawmaker getting prepared to become Osun East Senator with laudable manifesto.
The election was held but it ended as an open fraud. As a matter of duty and honour being a young activist determined to uphold justice and reset Nigeria, I was infuriated, added my voice to reject and challenge the results of the election released by the Independent National Electoral Commission owing to the fact that the School Authority had earlier-on ensured that students vacate the University Campus by closing the institution before the elections.
Eventually, INEC posted results showing that the entire student populace registered at the seven polling units on campus had voted for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). After a wide range of discussion with other student union leaders, we immediately exposed the electoral manipulation and fraud by writing an open letter to INEC stating our fact with emphasis on the results being manufactured as the school was under lock and key.
Fast forward, the student leaders became prime, serious targets of the University Authority under Prof Faborode and Osun State Government of Prince Oyinlola probably with a view to preventing us from testifying at the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal. Akinola Saburi (Union President), Hassan Taiwo (Soweto) and I were incarcerated at Ilesa Prisons for almost six months, although Saburi spent a longer time having been arrested earlier and released later. Our studentship was suspended by the University management while we face varying degrees of ten counts capital criminal charges capable of leading us to death row. Hon Babajide Omoworare (as he then was), a contestant for the Osun East Senate seat in the election was one of the members of Action Congress that checked on us each time he visited the prison. And he kept in touch afterward even when we left the prison and awaiting reinstatement or victory at the court.
I started working with him on media, research and documentation while he prepared to contest the Osun East Senate 2011 election and upon my completion of NYSC in Rivers State in 2012 he interviewed and engaged me as a Legislative Aide in his Office. I did not only work for him while he was a Senator and a Presidential Advisor, I am proud to say that he schooled and modelled my perspectives of politics by practicing what he preaches.
Senator Babajide Omoworare (SBO) is contesting for the governorship seat of Osun State; I believe he is qualified to move Osun State forward to a desired position and that our party, the APC will be doing the people of Osun State an immeasurable good to focus on Senator Babajide Christopher Omoworare, a distinguished politician that his cerebral capacity, courage, candour and character is garnished with experience from his years of dedicated service to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Osun State in particular. SBO as fondly called is an accomplished professional and a consummate administrator whose personality is drenched in dexterity, diligence, dedication and determination for excellence with an uncommon passion.
If you seek a man with a consistent political trajectory and loyalty to the progressive political dynasty; I will show you Senator Babajide Omoworare. While some respected National Assembly members engaged in consciously selective loyalty to the party for favouritism and patronage of the National Assembly Leadership branding it smart politicking; Senator Babajide Omoworare remained resolute, dedicated and undaunted even in the face of obvious parliamentary persecution. Prior to and since the return to democracy in 1999, Babajide Omoworare has maintained a steady and dedicated political consistency to the progressive political tendency regardless of the weather being fair or hostile. From the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress (AC), to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and at present the All Progressives Congress (APC). He has steadied his political trajectory, his dedication and conviction in the party and its leadership.
Babajide Omoworare as a parliamentarian maintained an uncommon allegiance to the party and its leadership with his fearless canvassing, projection and defence of progressive democratic ideals. His roles as a Lagos parliamentarian and majority leader whilst Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the governor is fresh and enviable not to talk of his tenacious, agile and distinct dedication to voicing, maintaining and defending the progressive party positions on the floor of Nigerian Senate without fear of backlash. Babajide Omoworare exudes a kind of passion and energy that gives live to minority opinion in a decorous and logical manner such that he was admired and recognized as the opposition ‘striker’ even by senators of the ruling party. If and when the history of the progressive politics in Nigeria will be documented, I have no doubt, Babajide Omowrare’s name will be boldly written as a classical reference and model of loyalty and adherence to party supremacy.
His sense of duty, dedication to Nation-building and Progressive Democracy at the Senate was without fear of repercussion which he suffered even when the party had a majority at the Senate under Dr Bukola Saraki’s leadership. In actual fact, Omoworare led the opposition within his own party caucus to uphold its fundamental ideals which were being maligned and grossly corrupted. Little wonder, when the Osun APC under Ogbeni Aregbesola’s leadership denied him a third term return to the Senate in preference for Hon. Jibola Famurewa and in defiance to National All Progressives Congress party leaders decision and President Buhari’s commitment to return all loyal persecuted National Assembly members, his colleagues at the 9th Assembly unanimously resolved and made a case with President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint him as a Presidential Liaison Officer with the National Assembly to retain his valuable parliamentary experience.
Senator Babajide Omoworare is a team player par-excellence, he is a listener, who is never rigid, narrow-minded nor shy. He conscientiously looks at issues before painstakingly canvasing his positions with well laid out logic. He will not hesitate to criticize views that he thinks are not absolutely correct but never descend into malice or bad blood when his opinion is rejected. His conclusions are always premised on collective responsibility and standing by the consequences. He is a strong advocate of team work with the team spirit: we all need to come together to get the job done, we all have to do the job together, win together and govern together. This is a man that will lead by matching with us and not ahead of us as a political party. He should be allowed to bring his virtues and value to bear for the good of all and our eventual triumph.
Omoworare listens with rapt attention to all shades of opinion without despising anyone. Status, leaning, ethnicity or religious bias does not disqualify anyone but he cannot be fooled, swayed or foolishly misled. He is a team player as well as a team leader and he is always patient even when you fall short of his expectations, he creates a second chance and sees the situation as a learning curve to guide, patiently shape and influence people around him into excellence. When Senator Omoworare is set on a mission, your tardiness can only hold you down not him. When you get motivated and ready, you will catch up with him and be lovingly welcome but not allowed to derail his targets.
He is an industrious personality who keeps the midnight oil burning, he is always good to go sleepless until the goal is achieved. He is a rare politician whose watch word and driving force is dedication to duties without frivolities and perversion. Senator Omoworare is a bold, courageous man who gives his best to politicking, electioneering and Governance. He learnt from the best as a proud alumnus of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu School of Politics and Governance, Bourdillon Campus and ever ready to boldly bring to practice his years of political training loaded with passionate, people-oriented, development-focused and prosperity inducing agenda that will permanently alter the stereotype narrative of governance in Osun for bolder ideas with everlasting legacies that will set the tone for rapid and continued development of our state.
Humility and accessibility are his unique traits, while some politicians take themselves off the radar of those who gave them their support and mandate; Omoworare values interaction with people. He is a man that detests being unduly shielded or prevented from accessing his constituents and party members. He derives joy in meeting people and keeping memories of his interactions and conversations. Social status does not serve as a barrier to him because he derives joy in listening to people and offering his best assistance when needed. There are numerous testimonies of party members and public to this effect. Even when you assume you have been forgotten or least expect his response, he pulls up surprises by reaching out to, you most importantly if your patience and understanding of the enormity of his responsibilities is not short. He is a potential governor that will listen to all, take advice and do his best to assist when the need arises. Mark this and go to the bank with it.
At a time like this, a principled, passionate, dedicated, disciplined, deeply rooted, cultured, conscious, charismatic, humble, accessible, capable, cerebral and consistent man like Babajide Omoworare should fly the flag of APC. He will reposition, rejuvenate, restore, and reinstate the progressive confidence of party members from units to wards, Local Government and across the state to passionately prosecute the election for our collective victory and restore the fortunes of progressive hold in Osun. It is a mobilizer like SBO that can win the August 8, 2026 election, return Osun State to the progressive fold on November 27, 2026 and consolidate the Renewed Hope Agenda towards the 2027 election. Senator Babajide Omoworare is the perfect fit, he is ready and capable, Osun APC should send the right man and leader for the task ahead.
Osun needs a man of valour with outstanding values and virtues capable of redeeming and restoring the diminishing fortune of a once enviable state in the comity of Nigerian states. Babajide Omoworare will walk the talk, pay attention to details, carry everyone along and motivate the party members without being selective. He is a man that cannot be caged by any standard or restricted by people at the corridors of power while discharging his constitutional responsibilities. He is a servant leader, humble, not given to frivolities and distractions from the goal. While not playing God or discarding marginal errors as expected of every mortal, I have absolute confidence that with God on his side, Babajide Omoworare will be a governor for all, deliver good governance and dividends of democracy to the nooks and crannies of the state to the pride and benefit of all.
SBO has the requisite education, governance knowledge, intrinsic experience, exposure, technical-know-how, wherewithal, political determination, required network and implementation will power to govern and move Osun State into prosperity. His personality and experience as a public servant has deepened his skills to ensure a fluid executive, legislative and judiciary relationship. His forte in governance is the art of directional effective and efficient budgeting, obtaining value for government money spent, project implementation, monitoring and compliance. I have never seen a politician that dislikes abandoned projects like him. He believes that governance is a continuum irrespective of the change of parties, persons, programs or policies. Senator Omoworare is an avowed federalist that believes in annexing regional strength for community development. He has an appeal to network inter-government capacities of the federal, state and local governments to ensure infrastructural development.
In Senator Babajide Omoworare, I see a man with a progressive inclination who will walk with the party, lead a campaign and win an election. I see a courageous administrator with capacity and will to work with the people of Osun State and make our state a prosperous land. I see a listening man open to ideas that will open the future of Osun State. By the special Grace of God and to the proclamation of His Glory, I see Senator Babajide Omoworare as Governor of Osun on November 27, 2026. Please join me to make this a reality by giving Senator Babajide Omoworare the mandate to lead the victorious charge of Osun State APC in the Osun 2026 governorship election- Mr Tunde Dairo, a Media Consultant, writes from Osogbo
