The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, on Tuesday met with over 1,500 teachers and 515 health workers disengaged by the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke, assuring them that they have not been forgotten.
The affected workers, whose appointments were terminated on November 27, 2022, converged in Osogbo to seek support and solidarity from Oyebamiji after what many described as nearly three years of hardship, uncertainty, and emotional trauma.
Speaking during the interaction, some of the disengaged workers narrated the pains they have endured since losing their jobs.
A former teacher from Ifelodun Local Government said the past three years had been “a season of tears and survival.” “For three years, we have lived without salaries, without certainty, and without hope from a government that removed us without listening to our side,” she lamented. “Many of us have children in school and aged parents to care for. Life has not been easy.”
Another affected health worker described the situation as emotionally devastating. “We were employed to serve the people, especially in the health sector where manpower is already inadequate,” he said. “Since we were disengaged, many families have been thrown into hardship. Some colleagues have fallen into depression.”
A third worker expressed disappointment over what he termed the silence of the state government on the issue. “What hurts the most is not just losing the job, but the feeling that nobody cares,” he said. “For almost three years, there has been no sincere effort to address our plight.”
Responding, Oyebamiji assured the affected workers that their concerns would not be ignored under his leadership, saying governance must be compassionate and inclusive.
“No government should turn its back on people who are willing and qualified to serve,” AMBO stated. “The movement we are building is for everyone Osun has left behind. Governance must carry the people along, not abandon them.”
The APC candidate also pledged that his administration, if elected, would prioritize fairness, human capital development, and institutional stability.
“Osun deserves a government that listens, a government that values workers, and a government that understands that behind every employment letter is a family depending on survival,” he added.
In a separate development, Oyebamiji rewarded the overall best graduating student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Oladeji Caleb Olugbenga, with a cash gift of ₦1 million.
Caleb, who hails from Ejigbo Local Government Area, was also promised sponsorship for his postgraduate education in recognition of his academic excellence and resilience despite financial challenges.
Speaking during the presentation, Oyebamiji described education as a critical pillar for Osun’s future development.
“When young people excel despite difficult conditions, society must encourage and support them,” he said. “We must build a culture where hard work, excellence, and perseverance are rewarded.”
An emotional Caleb expressed gratitude for the unexpected gesture, while his mother, Lady Evangelist Mrs. Bisi Oladeji, described the support as life-changing.
According to her, the family had relied heavily on loans from cooperative societies and financial institutions to sustain the education of their children.
“This support came at the right time,” she said. “There were moments we did not know how we would pay fees, but we kept trusting God and pushing forward.”
She also appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Federal Government’s NELFUND student loan initiative, which she said provided critical support for many students struggling financially.
The presentation ceremony was witnessed by the Osun State APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, alongside other party leaders and stakeholders.
