The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) in Oyo State, Hon. Abimbola Adekanmbi has pledged to sustain and build on the achievements of Governor Seyi Makinde if elected in the 2027 governorship election.

Adekanmbi, who described Makinde’s administration as one that had laid a foundation for the state’s development, said his administration would ensure continuity rather than abandon projects and policies that had benefited the people.

He stated this during an interactive session with political stakeholders and media practitioners at Thames Hotel, Jericho, Ibadan.

Adekanmbi said: “Governor Seyi Makinde has built a bridge, and I will take the people of Oyo across the bridge by continuing the good works of the present administration.”

He specifically assured residents that he would continue the Circular Road project if elected, stressing that continuity was important in ensuring that government investments were not wasted.

“I will continue the Circular Road,” he said, while emphasising that residents affected by the project must be treated with dignity and fairness.

The APM candidate also pledged to prioritise regular payment of workers’ salaries and pensions, drawing on his experience in banking, finance and public-sector financial management.

He said effective management of the state’s resources would be critical to ensuring that workers received their entitlements regularly.

On local government administration, Adekanmbi expressed support for 100 per cent autonomy for the 33 local government areas, arguing that stronger grassroots governance would promote transparency, accountability and development.

He said local government autonomy was already recognised by law but needed to be effectively implemented to enable councils to deliver on their responsibilities to the people.

Adekanmbi also identified education, agriculture and youth empowerment as critical areas requiring sustained attention.

On the growing number of out-of-school children in the state, he said the government must address the root causes of the problem rather than merely treating its symptoms.

According to him, authorities must understand the vulnerabilities forcing children out of school and develop practical interventions to tackle them.

He also promised to make classrooms more conducive while ensuring that government continuously identifies and addresses the challenges confronting vulnerable groups.

On youth development and vandalism, Adekanmbi advocated enforcement alongside education, empowerment and innovation.

He described young people as assets that could be transformed into drivers of economic development if given the right opportunities.

“Every young man is a potential unicorn,” he said, stressing that what ultimately becomes of a young person depends largely on the opportunities available to him.

He said his administration would promote innovation, skills development and empowerment as part of efforts to reduce unemployment and other social challenges affecting young people.

Adekanmbi also identified agriculture as a major area of comparative advantage for Oyo State, noting the state’s significant cassava production and agricultural potential.

He said greater investment in agriculture, innovation and value addition could create jobs, empower young people and expand the state’s economic base.

The candidate also described Oyo State‘s human resources as part of its major assets, saying the state possessed significant “cerebral capital” that could be harnessed for development.

He also pledged to promote regional integration, citing the Dawn Commission as part of the framework that could facilitate greater cooperation and development across the region.

On infrastructure, Adekanmbi said he would prioritise projects that connect communities and expand opportunities, while pledging to ensure that rural areas were not neglected in the distribution of infrastructure.

He also spoke on environmental and social challenges, including street hawking and begging, saying such problems should be addressed from their roots by tackling the socioeconomic vulnerabilities responsible for them.

The APM candidate also promised to maintain an open relationship with the media if elected, stressing that journalists would have access to his administration and would be free to ask questions.

He said strategic communication would be an important component of his administration, noting that government must make relevant information available to citizens while allowing the media to perform its watchdog role.

Adekanmbi also emphasised capacity building and digital innovation across sectors, including education, healthcare, agriculture and security.

He said digital tools and skills development could expand opportunities for citizens and improve service delivery.

Responding to a question on the three measurable achievements by which his administration could be assessed within its first year, Adekanmbi referred to plans being developed for his first 100 days in office.

He said the first 100 days would be used to establish priorities and commence implementation of his administration’s agenda.

The candidate also dismissed the notion that he would be required to “clear the slate” of Makinde’s administration, as he had done for his former principal, the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

He described Makinde as a man of virtue, saying there would be nothing to “clear off” from his administration.

Adekanmbi said his focus would instead be on consolidating what had worked while introducing improvements where necessary.

He also urged the people of Oyo State to support continuity in governance, stressing that his ambition was to build on existing achievements and take the state to greater heights.

The interactive session, which was attended by political stakeholders and media practitioners, provided the candidate an opportunity to outline his plans on governance, infrastructure, education, agriculture, youth empowerment, local government administration, workers’ welfare and accountability ahead of the 2027 election.