A governorship hopeful of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2027 Oyo State election, Mogaji Olusegun Agboola, has called for fresh ideas and a new approach to governance, saying Nigeria needs leaders capable of building systems that will benefit generations yet unborn.

 

Agboola made the call on Monday at his declaration of intent and stakeholders’ meeting at the SDP secretariat in Ibadan, where he said his decision to seek elective office was driven by the desire to contribute meaningfully to the development of Oyo State and Nigeria.

 

He said although he had supported, assisted and promoted politicians over the years, the prevailing situation in the country required people with fresh perspectives to take responsibility for leadership.

 

“Actually, I’m not a politician. I’ve supported politicians, assisted politicians and promoted politicians. But the state we are in as a country right now calls for a fresh idea and a fresh look at things,” he said.

 

The aspirant said his proposed agenda would focus on education, leadership, innovation and long-term development, particularly as artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies continue to reshape the global economy.

 

He argued that Nigeria’s education system must be redesigned to equip young people with the knowledge and skills required for future employment, warning that many children were currently being prepared for jobs that may no longer exist in the years ahead.

 

Agboola also advocated a shift from what he described as “pedestrian thinking” to “system thinking”, saying governance should move beyond the delivery of short-term projects to the creation of institutions and systems that would remain functional long after the administrations that established them had left office.

 

He questioned why Nigerians could admire schools and universities in other countries that had survived for hundreds of years without asking why similar institutions could not be built and sustained in Nigeria.

 

“Where are the people who built these schools 500 years ago? They are long gone, but they left the system in place. Can we say the same of Nigeria?” he asked.

 

The SDP aspirant also called for an end to patronage-driven politics and what he described as “stomach infrastructure”, urging citizens to demand competent, accountable and visionary leadership from those seeking public offices.

 

He cited the recent Osun State governorship election as evidence that voters were becoming more conscious of their choices and could resist political pressure to make independent decisions at the polls.

 

Earlier, the SDP state chairman, Hon. Michael Okunlade, said the stakeholders’ meeting was organised to formally introduce Agboola to members of the party and the wider public as the party’s intended governorship candidate.

 

Okunlade said the party had been working through the necessary processes concerning its candidate ahead of the relevant electoral deadlines, adding that the law also provides for substitution where necessary.

 

He described the SDP as a credible alternative for Nigerians seeking a different political direction, stressing that the party had a long-standing political identity and was not a platform unknown to the electorate.

 

According to him, the SDP remains recognisable across communities and generations, while its structures in Oyo State would be strengthened to mobilise support across the state’s local government areas ahead of the 2027 election.

 

He expressed confidence that the party would continue to expand its grassroots structures and position itself as a strong contender in the forthcoming governorship election.