Can Oriyomi Hamzat Govern Oyo While Anchoring ‘Kokoro Alate’?

Nifemi Peters

As the 2027 gubernatorial race in Oyo State gathers momentum, a singular, provocative question is dominating the political discourse from the ancient corridors of Mapo Hall to the digital spaces of the diaspora: Can a sitting Executive Governor realistically—and legally—continue to anchor a daily radio program?

​The aspiration of Dr. Oriyomi Hamzat, the Chairman of Agidigbo 88.7 FM, has moved beyond a mere curiosity. Following his massive declaration at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, the prospect of a “Broadcaster-in-Chief” has divided the Pacesetter State into two fierce camps. At the heart of the debate is Kokoro Alate, the popular advocacy show that catapulted Hamzat to stardom. For his supporters, the show is his greatest asset; for his critics, it is a constitutional and administrative impossibility.

​Legal practitioners in the state are already pointing toward the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, which contains the Code of Conduct for Public Officers. Specifically, Section 2(b) strictly prohibits full-time public officers from engaging in the management or running of any private business, profession, or trade, with the sole exception being farming.

​”The office of the Governor is a 24-hour responsibility,” says one Ibadan-based legal analyst. “Running a private media empire while holding the gavel of state is not just a logistical nightmare; it could be a direct breach of the Code of Conduct. The moment he takes the oath of office, the microphone may have to go silent.”

​Despite the legal hurdles, Hamzat’s loyalists argue that his media presence is exactly what Oyo State needs. They envision a new era of “Broadcast Governance,” where the Governor uses his platform to maintain direct, unfiltered contact with the citizens. In this scenario, Kokoro Alate would not be a “private business” but a revolutionary tool for transparency—a live, daily town hall where the Governor hears the grievances of the poor and the marginalized in real-time.

​”If he can solve community crises on the radio as an OAP, imagine the speed of justice when he has the executive power to back it up,” a supporter at the Liberty Stadium declaration argued.

​Traditional political pundits remain skeptical, often dismissing the ambition as a “populist joke.” They argue that the emotional, often theatrical nature of radio broadcasting is fundamentally at odds with the diplomatic and bureaucratic requirements of the Agodi Government House. Managing state security, a complex civil service, and a multibillion-naira budget requires a different kind of “frequency” than that of an FM station.

​However, the “Oriyomi Factor” cannot be ignored. His ability to mobilize the masses and the significant attention his declaration received from the diaspora suggest that the electorate is increasingly open to non-traditional candidates.

​As 2027 approaches, the state watches to see if Dr. Hamzat will be forced to choose between his voice and his vision. Will the Agodi Government House become a remote studio for Kokoro Alate, or will the “Voice of the People” have to fall silent to satisfy the demands of the law? For now, the political atmosphere in Ibadan remains electric, as the city awaits the next episode of this unprecedented political drama.