OPEN SALAWU: MORE THAN A VOTE-SEEKING CLAIM — A SON OF OGBOMOSO WITH A RECORD OF SERVICE
Engr. Muftau Open Salawu is not merely claiming Ogbomoso to attract votes. His connection to the ancient city goes beyond politics. He is an indigene of Ogbomoso, born into the Alapa Ruling House of Isale Ora, Ita Alasa, in Ogbomoso North, and has built a public profile around community development, philanthropy, professional achievement and public service.
Unlike politicians whose strongest connection to a community may emerge only during election season, Salawu has, over the years, maintained visible relationships with traditional institutions, religious leaders, youths, professionals and community groups across Ogbomoso.
His emergence as the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) Deputy Governorship Candidate for Oyo State, alongside governorship candidate Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, has therefore added a significant Ogbomoso dimension to the 2027 political contest. The party formally unveiled him in June 2026.
The argument being advanced by his supporters is straightforward: Open Salawu is not discovering Ogbomoso because he needs its votes; he has been part of the community's social and economic development long before the current political contest.
A LEGACY OF COMMUNITY AND FAITH-BASED SUPPORT
According to accounts of his community activities, Salawu's interventions have covered both Christian and Muslim communities.
Among the initiatives attributed to him are the donation of a bus to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ogbomoso Zone, sponsorship of Christian and Muslim programmes on Parrot FM, donations to churches across Ogbomoso, and the construction and support of mosques in communities including Ilajue, Olokoto, Ile Ogiri and Tara.
He has also supported the Ikoyi Central Mosque, roofed several Jumat mosques, initiated Itikaf at the Ogbomoso Central Mosque and reportedly funded feeding for 100 participants annually since 2023.
His Ramadan outreach has also reportedly provided food to thousands of people annually, with his supporters putting the figure at about 9,000 beneficiaries every Ramadan for the past eight years.
These activities have helped establish relationships across religious lines rather than restricting his community engagement to one constituency.
EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT AND HUMAN CAPITAL
Education and economic empowerment have equally featured prominently in the activities attributed to Salawu.
He has reportedly provided full scholarships for 20 students from primary school through university, donated 50 laptops to indigent students and supported traders with startup capital, including ₦1 million grants to selected beneficiaries.
His interventions also reportedly include the donation of 300 bags of rice and cash to party members during festive periods over the past three years, while during the COVID-19 pandemic, he distributed food reportedly valued at more than ₦10 million.
He also donated ₦10 million to the Ogbomoso Education Endowment Fund and has continued to support development initiatives within the community.
In 2025, reports also documented a separate ₦100 million pledge by Salawu toward the development vision of the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND EMPLOYMENT
His supporters also point to interventions in physical infrastructure and employment.
These include the provision of motorcycles to beneficiaries across political divides, borehole projects, a 200KVA transformer at Okin Apa and efforts toward the development of approximately 46 kilometres of township roads in Ogbomoso.
He has also been credited by his supporters with facilitating appointments for sons and daughters of Ogbomoso, including nine Federal Government appointments and 65 State Government appointments.
Some of these figures are claims attributed to his political and community supporters and should be independently verified against official records.
A POLITICAL JOURNEY BUILT ON PUBLIC SERVICE
Salawu's profile is not limited to philanthropy. He is a civil engineer, entrepreneur and administrator who has worked in both the private and public sectors. He has served in Oyo State government, including as Executive Assistant on Project Monitoring and subsequently as the pioneer Chairman/Director-General of the Oyo State Project Performance Monitoring Agency.
His professional background includes engineering and real-estate development, while reports identify him as the founder of Opinior Engineering, with projects spanning housing development across Nigeria.
He also holds the traditional title of Babalaje of Ogbomosoland and is known as Giwa Adini of Oyo State.
THE ALAO-AKALA PARALLEL
For many supporters, Salawu's emergence evokes memories of 2003, when Ogbomoso rallied behind Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala after he emerged as the running mate to Senator Rashidi Ladoja.
The political circumstances are different today, but the symbolism remains powerful: an Ogbomoso son occupying a strategic position on a major governorship ticket creates an opportunity for the people of the zone to demand representation based not only on identity, but also on competence, performance and demonstrated commitment.
Salawu has continued to engage stakeholders across Ogbomoso. In September 2026, he held meetings with CAN, chief imams, youth organisations, market associations, students, artisans, people living with disabilities and traditional/community leaders across the zone.
Ultimately, politics is decided by voters. But for those supporting Open Salawu, the question is no longer simply whether he is from Ogbomoso.
The argument is whether his years of engagement, philanthropy, professional experience and community interventions have earned him the confidence of the people.
Therefore, anyone seeking to challenge his influence in Ogbomoso must be prepared to present their own record of service and explain what they have contributed to the community.
And even then, the people will have the final say.
Build the People. Free the Nation.
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