The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sarafadeen Alli, has said he will not allow the state to become a “real estate company” if elected governor, promising to build an economy driven by agriculture, mining and other productive sectors.
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‎Alli said his administration would focus on creating jobs, developing industries and adding value to the state’s natural resources instead of relying largely on the sale of government assets and landed properties.
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‎The APC candidate spoke with journalists in Ibadan recently after attending the 2026 convention of the Archdiocese of Ibadan Catholic Men Organisation.
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‎He said one of his administration’s immediate priorities would be to establish at least one cottage industry in each of the state’s 33 local government areas.
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‎“I have said it times without number that within our first year in office, we are going to have at least one cottage industry in every local government. We are going to turn around Oyo State’s economy through agriculture, mining and other areas where we have comparative advantage. Oyo State will not be a real estate company,” he said.
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‎Alli added that his administration would ensure that Oyo State derives maximum benefit from its mineral resources.
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‎He said, “Where it is mining, we are going to bring the companies right to the site so that there will be some value addition before these things are exported. It will not be for personal reasons or personal aggrandisement, but for the benefit of the people of Oyo State.”
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‎The APC candidate also promised to grant local governments full administrative and financial autonomy, saying a functional local government system would strengthen governance and improve security at the grassroots.
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‎“Local government autonomy will lead us to several other things. There is no way you can have a very effective and functional local government without improving security. State police is also coming,” he said.
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‎Alli recalled that during a period of heightened insecurity in the state, some local governments empowered vigilantes to complement security agencies, particularly in Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa.
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‎According to him, the initiative helped to reduce insecurity in the affected areas while also providing employment for the youths engaged in the programme.
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‎He said, “A few years ago, when there were security challenges in the state, local governments were empowered to employ vigilantes. Along the roads in Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa and other areas, insecurity was reduced.The empowerment did not only provide security; it also provided jobs for the men.”
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‎Alli further criticised what he described as the failure of the government to act on an early warning about suspicious movements in Yawota in 2022.
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‎He said a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly had raised the alarm and called on the government to investigate the development, but no decisive action was taken.
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‎“Our government will be vigilant. We will not be lackadaisical. The truth is that in 2022, a member of the House of Assembly raised an alarm and warned about strange movements in Yawota, calling on the government to do something. But the government failed to do anything, and that same Yawota was where innocent people were kidnapped.
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‎“So, we are going to be very serious about governance,” Alli said.

(c) Mega Icon Magazine‎

OSUN State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has denied having any electoral agreement or partnership with the African Democratic Congress before, during or after the August 15 governorship election.

Adeleke made the clarification on Tuesday in a post on his verified X handle, saying his victory was achieved through the support of God and the people of Osun State.

The governor said the ADC was not part of the political coalition that campaigned and mobilised support for his re-election, describing the group of political allies that worked for his victory as a “rainbow coalition.”

He said, “I had no electoral deal or partnership with the ADC before, during, or after the governorship election.”

Adeleke added that it was important to put the record straight, stressing that the ADC was not part of the coalition that campaigned and mobilised support for his re-election.

“For the sake of history, it is important to clarify that the ADC was never part of the rainbow coalition that canvassed, mobilised, and supported our campaign in the battle leading to last Saturday’s election,” he said.

The governor thanked his political allies for their sacrifices and efforts during the campaign, noting that their commitment contributed to his victory at the poll.

Adeleke, who called for unity after the election, said he remained governor of all Osun residents regardless of their political affiliation, religion or tribe.

“Now that the election is over, I remain the Governor of all Osun people, irrespective of political affiliation, religion, or tribe. My commitment is to unite our people and continue working for the progress and prosperity of Osun State,” he said.

Adeleke defeated the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and the ADC candidate, Najeem Salaam, in the keenly contested election.

The governor polled 511,067 votes to defeat Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes, while Salaam secured 17,180 votes.

Adeleke won in 19 of the 30 local government areas in the state, while Oyebamiji won the remaining 11.

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has renewed his endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027, barely hours after he was declared winner of Saturday’s governorship election.

Adeleke, who secured a second term in office, also commended Tinubu for what he described as his support for a free, fair and credible electoral process.

The governor spoke in Osogbo on Sunday while reacting to his victory, which he dedicated to the people of Osun State.

“At this point, I must deeply appreciate Mr President, His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his strong support for a free and fair election,” Adeleke said.

“Mr President is a son of Osun State. And I hereby reaffirm my earlier endorsement of him for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.”

Adeleke thanked the people of the state for standing by him, saying their resilience and commitment to democracy had helped to produce the outcome of the election.

“In the last few months, Osun people have been under very intense pressure. Today, the issues are settled by the grace of God and the people.

“I therefore dedicate this victory to the good people of Osun State. I deeply appreciate your resilience, your strong will and your unwavering commitment to democracy,” he said.

The governor promised not to disappoint the electorate, saying his administration would build on its achievements and address areas where it had fallen short.

“As you have trusted me again for the second term in office, I will not disappoint you. To serve you better, I will reinforce my strong points and correct my errors,” Adeleke stated.

He also pledged to pursue accelerated development across the state under his renewed five-point agenda.

The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Adeleke the winner of the election in the early hours of Sunday.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, announced in Osogbo that Adeleke polled 511,067 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes.

The candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.

A total of 1,005,800 votes were cast across the 30 local government areas of the state, while 985,079 votes were declared valid.

INEC said 1,010,684 voters were accredited for the election, which was contested by candidates of 15 political parties.

Adeleke’s victory secures another four-year term for him and further strengthens his political position in Osun ahead of the 2027 general elections.