The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APM) in Oyo State, Bimbo Adekanmbi, has promised to construct 100 kilometres of roads within the first year of his administration if elected governor in 2027.
Adekanmbi gave this assurance in a statement issued and signed by Yinka Oladoyinbo, Director of Communication and Spokesperson of the APM Governorship Campaign Council in Oyo State.
Adekanmbi said he was prepared for the task of governance, adding that Governor Seyi Makinde had established a development foundation which his administration would build upon to unlock the state’s economic potential and improve the living standards of residents.
He made the remarks while outlining his plans for road infrastructure, tourism development and the management of critical state assets.
On road infrastructure, the APM candidate acknowledged the Makinde administration’s efforts in opening up the state through the construction of major roads, including Ibadan-Iseyin, Oyo-Iseyin, Ogbomoso-Iseyin and Olorunda-Akobo roads.
He also welcomed the governor’s recent approval of N4 billion for the Amuloko-Ijebu road, saying the project was particularly significant to him because he hails from Amuloko in Ona-Ara Local Government Area.
Adekanmbi, however, said his administration would expand the existing road infrastructure programme through what he described as Omituntun 3.0, with particular attention to rural roads.
“Now that the governor has opened up the state, we cannot use the state money on those roads again,” he said, adding that his proposed 100-kilometre road construction programme would focus substantially on rural communities.
He said he had visited all the 33 local government areas of the state, some of them on three occasions, and had identified roads that residents considered priorities.
Responding to allegations that he was a political front for Makinde and intended to sustain the governor’s administration, Adekanmbi dismissed the claims, insisting that he had the professional competence and independence to govern Oyo State.
He recalled his experience as Commissioner for Finance under the administration of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, saying he had on several occasions disagreed with the governor over policy decisions despite being an appointee who could be removed from office.
According to him, his ability to stand by his convictions while serving in Ajimobi’s government demonstrated that he could take independent decisions as governor.
Adekanmbi, an accountant, said his profession was guided by the principles of professional duty and care, confidentiality, integrity, technical ability and professionalism.
He also disclosed that Makinde had told him that his expected loyalty, if he succeeded him, should be to Oyo State rather than to any individual.
Citing the controversy surrounding the proposed Ibadan Circular Road, Adekanmbi said he would assess government decisions based on whether they served the interests of the state.
“If I look at it to see whether the decisions are loyal to Oyo State or Governor Makinde, I will choose loyalty to Oyo State because that is what I am responsible for,” he said.
On tourism development, the APM candidate said the number of registered hotels and leisure facilities in Oyo State had increased from 3,500 when Makinde assumed office to 18,000.
He also cited the development of the CAP Village associated with filmmaker Kunle Afolayan as one of the government’s efforts to promote tourism.
Adekanmbi said his administration would adopt a systematic approach to developing tourism destinations, beginning with an audit of their facilities and potentials within its first 100 days in office.
He explained that the proposed assessment would identify the infrastructure and other interventions required at each destination, including access roads and promotional materials, before embarking on international publicity to attract tourists.
He said the tourism development plan was contained in his party’s manifesto.
On the Ikere Gorge Dam, Adekanmbi said both the administrations of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Governor Makinde had pursued efforts to secure its concession without achieving the desired outcome.
He said the facility was managed by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority and that the Federal Ministry of Power had reportedly granted a concession to a private operator in the previous year.
Although he expressed hope that the concessionaire would deliver on the project, Adekanmbi said his administration would approach the Federal Government to consider transferring the facility to Oyo State if there was no appreciable progress under the private operator.
He said the development of the dam could have significant multiplier effects on the state’s economy.
