Sharafadeen Ali (APC, Oyo South) has promised to fully implement local government autonomy to deepen development at the grassroots if elected governor in the 2027 general elections.

Mr Ali stated this when he declared his ambition to contest the governorship position in the state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.

He said that his journey in public service has never been about titles but an unrepentant quest for impact and progress, particularly at the grassroots level.

The governorship aspirant promised to make government belong to the people if elected.

Mr Ali further said that Oyo State, being a state blessed with early civilisation, history, culture, and high-profile citizens, deserves a leadership that measures itself not by achievements in business or the concoction of weapons, but by the dignity of its policies.

He said that during his previous political positions, policies were not merely written; they were implemented, while decisions were not simply announced; they were felt in the lives of ordinary citizens.

“As local government chairman, we brought government closer to the people, strengthened institutions, improved infrastructure, and ensured that governance was not distorted but present and visible. As secretary to the Oyo State government, I served tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that government worked for the people.

“As chief of staff under Governor Rashidi Ladoja, I stood at the centre of governance, coordinating, aligning, and ensuring that leadership and participative agreement were translated into action.

“As senator, currently representing the Oyo South Senatorial District, I have continued to raise my voice, not for myself but for our people, through legislation, advocacy, and interventions that touch lives across various states and strata of our economy,” Mr Ali said.

He decried the current state of education in the state, noting that the reports released by various assessment groups show that the situation was not as good as expected.

“Education is not merely the transfer of knowledge. We must build schools that are homes of innovation, not just classrooms where adults and children can learn under good conditions,” he said.

The APC governorship aspirant promised that his administration, if elected, would also give priority to youth development, agriculture, security, regular power supply, and quality healthcare, among others.

“As our fathers once said, a government that fails its people will be replaced by the collective will of those people.

“I offer myself to you today, not as a master but as a servant. Not as a stranger, but as one of you.

“It is time to claim the front row in the quest to rescue Oyo State, not by mere words. I am tested, prepared, and ready to serve,” he said.

Earlier, an APC chieftain and the chairman of the event planning committee, Yemi Aderibigbe, described Mr Ali as humble and accessible with deep experience in governance.

He noted that his track record as a former local government chairman, secretary to the state government, chief of staff to the governor, chairman of Oodua Investment, and currently as a distinguished senator has shown that he has the capacity to govern the state properly.

The event featured goodwill messages from senators, House of Representatives members, party stakeholders, and other eminent personalities. 

(NAN)