IBADAN – The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator (Dr) Sharafadeen Alli, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the rehabilitation of major federal roads in Oyo State, describing the gesture as a clear demonstration of the President’s love, commitment and special regard for the people of the state.
Alli expressed appreciation to President Tinubu over the Federal Government’s approval of over ₦1 trillion for the rehabilitation of critical federal roads, noting that the intervention would significantly improve transportation, boost economic activities and enhance the quality of life of residents.
“We owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu our sincere appreciation for this remarkable intervention. His commitment to fixing federal roads in Oyo State reflects his genuine love, concern and respect for our people,” Alli said.
The APC governorship candidate spoke on Monday while unveiling his governance blueprint at a programme tagged “A Day With BSA”, held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
At the event, Alli reaffirmed his commitment to rebuilding Oyo State through purposeful, people-centred governance anchored on transparency, accountability and sustainable development.
He pledged to reposition the state through full implementation of local government autonomy, quality education, agricultural transformation, improved healthcare, enhanced security, infrastructure renewal and better welfare for workers and pensioners.
The APC standard-bearer promised to implement local government autonomy in line with constitutional provisions to strengthen grassroots governance and accelerate development across the state.
According to him, local councils under his administration would play pivotal roles in agriculture, food production, rural development, security and other constitutionally assigned responsibilities.
He also pledged to restore statutory subventions and running grants to local governments to facilitate the rehabilitation of council roads and strengthen neighbourhood watch and vigilante groups.
On education, Alli promised comprehensive reforms across primary, secondary and tertiary institutions aimed at improving standards and restoring public confidence in the sector.
He disclosed that consultants managing tertiary institutions would be disengaged, while governing councils would be allowed to function in accordance with their enabling laws.
He further pledged to reduce class sizes to 30 pupils, recruit more teachers, improve school infrastructure, restore school subventions, revive school farms in rural communities and establish technical colleges across the three senatorial districts to promote vocational education.
Speaking on agriculture, Alli promised to establish commodity boards, provide tractors, fertilisers and other farm implements to boost food production and improve farmers’ productivity.
He added that cottage industries would be established to process agricultural produce, while guaranteed off-takers would create employment opportunities for young agripreneurs.
In the health sector, the APC candidate pledged to ensure functional primary healthcare centres in every ward and well-equipped general hospitals in all local government areas through the recruitment of additional medical personnel.
He also promised to strengthen neighbourhood watch and vigilante groups with improved welfare packages, operational vehicles and modern security equipment to enhance community policing.
Alli said road rehabilitation and the provision of potable water would receive priority attention across both urban and rural communities, adding that schools, hospitals, markets and other public institutions would also benefit from improved water supply.
To stimulate economic growth, he promised greater support for artisans, market associations and other trade groups through policies that would promote entrepreneurship and peaceful coexistence.
He assured civil servants of prompt payment of salaries before the 25th of every month, regular recruitment and continuous capacity development.
He also pledged prompt payment of pensions and gratuities, as well as the restoration of the 13th-month salary for workers.
On sports development, Alli promised to revive grassroots sporting competitions, construct standard stadiums across the state’s six geopolitical zones and provide greater support for Shooting Stars Sports Club and other football clubs in the state.
Addressing the aftermath of the APC governorship primary election, Alli assured party members that grievances among aggrieved aspirants would soon be resolved.
> “It is not unusual to have aggrieved aspirants in a vibrant political party like the APC with many qualified and competent individuals seeking the party’s ticket. I want to assure our members that all grievances arising from the primary election will be amicably resolved in the interest of our great party,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Comrade Akeem Abas, said the union remained apolitical and was committed to providing a platform for governorship candidates to present their programmes and vision to the people of the state.
He added that all governorship candidates would be given equal opportunities to engage the public through the NUJ’s agenda-setting initiative.
The event was attended by Alli’s running mate, Mr Adesoji Adedeji; the Oyo State APC Chairman, Chief Moses Adeyemo; members of the state executive committee of the party, APC chieftains and numerous supporters.