The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, has pledged to prioritise the payment of outstanding workers’ entitlements, create opportunities for young people through digital skills training, and strengthen security across the state if elected in the August 15 governorship election.
Speaking during a parley with media editors in Lagos on Monday, Oyebamiji said his administration would focus on restoring what he described as effective governance through a seven-point “Prosperity Agenda” aimed at improving the welfare of residents and stimulating economic growth.
The APC candidate said that within his first 100 days in office, his administration would review all outstanding entitlements owed to serving and retired workers and begin immediate payment.
He also promised to make the Dagbolu Dry Port fully operational and train no fewer than 10,000 youths in information and communication technology through strategic partnerships.
“Our Prosperity Agenda is built on seven key pillars covering poverty alleviation, workers’ welfare, transparent governance, economic growth, security, agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure, culture and tourism,” he said.
Oyebamiji, a former Commissioner for Finance in Osun State and former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), said his government would institutionalise monthly State Security Council meetings involving security agencies, traditional rulers and local government leaders to improve coordination against insecurity.
He added that his administration would also launch pilot off-grid renewable energy projects in selected public institutions and rural communities, conduct a comprehensive fiscal sustainability review, and carry out a statewide infrastructure audit to identify priority economic roads and critical projects.
The APC standard-bearer criticised the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke, arguing that the significant increase in federal allocations to Osun had not translated into corresponding development.
According to him, the last Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocation received under the immediate past APC administration was about ₦2.6 billion monthly, compared to an average of about ₦16 billion currently received by the state.
He alleged that some infrastructure projects executed by the current administration were awarded secretly to incompetent contractors and had failed before commissioning.
Oyebamiji said his campaign had already visited 24 local government areas across seven federal constituencies, adding that the remaining six local government areas would be covered within 48 hours.
He also raised concerns over the security situation in the state, alleging that members of the APC had been victims of persistent political violence since the 2022 governorship election.
According to him, more than 25 APC members were allegedly killed during the 2022 election period, including the late Chairman of Irewole Local Government, Remi Abass.
The APC candidate further alleged that recent attacks on party members, including an incident in Ede, reflected what he described as a troubling security climate in the state.
Referring to recent security developments, Oyebamiji cited public comments by the Inspector-General of Police regarding alleged criminal activities in Osun and reports of the arrest of a suspect at the residence of the Secretary to the State Government. He urged security agencies to ensure impartial enforcement of the law.
Appealing to voters ahead of the August 15 governorship poll, Oyebamiji said the APC remained committed to providing responsive governance and improving the welfare of Osun residents.
He also expressed appreciation to media professionals for their support during his tenure as Managing Director of NIWA, noting that reforms introduced under his leadership, including the Water Marshals Scheme and community-based water safety campaigns, continue to deliver positive results.
