Yesterday, Oriyomi Hamzat finally broke his silence on the wave of propaganda, misinformation, and calculated attacks that have trailed his name. Contrary to the usual attempts to twist narratives, his statement was not directed at any single individual. It was a broad, deliberate response to a growing culture of falsehood targeted at bloggers, rumor merchants, and purveyors of fake news who have made it a duty to distort his image.
Over the past two months, I have personally written and followed several accounts addressing these coordinated efforts. What I have witnessed goes beyond ordinary political disagreement. It includes AI-generated images, doctored videos, and deliberately misleading commentary which are all designed to tarnish a reputation that he has built over years of consistency, service, and connection with the people.
To be frank, whatever conclusions anyone chooses to draw from his statement, one thing remains clear: He is a man who has built his name from the ground up, nurtured a legacy through hard work, and dedicated his life to the cause of humanity. No sane individual with such a track record would sit back and watch their identity, character, and life’s work be reduced to false narratives without setting the record straight.
I’ve seen people say ‘he should have ignored them’ or ‘a leader must always be silent.’ That sounds good in theory, but leadership is not about pretending attacks don’t exist.
There’s a clear difference between responding to misinformation and using state power to silence critics. In this country, we’ve seen leaders go as far as arrests over far less issues or accusations.
So let’s be honest, speaking up is not intolerance, it is responsibility. You can’t demand accountability from a leader and at the same time deny him the right to defend his name
If you watch closely, there is also a human side to this that must not be ignored. He is not a machine that is immune to attacks. He feels, he reflects, and when necessary, he speaks. What stands out, however, is his consistency. He has never pretended to be what he is not, in fact, he is one of the realest persons I’ve ever worked with. He remains grounded, genuine, and unwavering in his principles. As our elders would say, he does not “fi ẹjẹ si nu, tu tọ funfun jade”(he does not pretend to be at peace with everyone while acting otherwise behind the scenes).
Most Importantly, for me, his message was not one-sided. It carried a dual warning.
Firstly, to those committed to spreading falsehoods: he said it clearly that if you must speak, let it be backed by verifiable facts. Every successful person knows that reputation is not a playground for reckless claims and we must understand that words carry weight, and accountability must follow.
Secondly, to his teeming supporters: we can deduce that defense of a cause must never descend into the same behavior we condemn. There is no justification for character assassination, no matter the provocation. As he rightly pointed out, no one has a monopoly on thought, and differing opinions must be handled with maturity and respect.
I believe that is what sets leadership apart. A leader must have discipline, clarity, and restraint, even in the face of provocation.
In the end, Oriyomi Hamzat has made his position unmistakably clear. He will continue to speak when necessary. He will not be intimidated into silence. And more importantly, he remains focused on a bigger goal—offering purposeful leadership and shaping a future driven by service, truth, and accountability.
The noise may continue, but so will his voice.
©️ BIO
