The Oyo State Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. (Dr) Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, has called on Nigerians to renew their faith in the country and work collectively toward building a united, peaceful and prosperous nation.
Alli made the call in his Independence Day message issued on Thursday in Ibadan, describing Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary as an opportunity for citizens to reflect on the sacrifices of the nation’s founding fathers.
He urged Nigerians to remain united and committed to building a stronger, more prosperous and secure country, saying the nation’s challenges could be overcome through responsible leadership, patriotism and collective action.
According to him, President Tinubu’s administration deserves the support and cooperation of Nigerians as it implements reforms aimed at repositioning the nation’s economy and laying the foundation for sustainable development.
“Independence Day is not merely a celebration of freedom from colonial rule; it is a solemn reminder of our collective responsibility to preserve, strengthen and improve the Nigeria handed over to us by our founding fathers.
“We must never lose faith in Nigeria. Despite the challenges confronting the nation, our country remains endowed with enormous human and natural resources capable of making it one of the most prosperous nations in the world,” he said.
Alli urged Nigerians to support what he described as the Federal Government’s efforts to move the country from economic reforms and stabilisation toward increased production, investment and shared prosperity.
He particularly appealed to the people of Oyo State to support Tinubu and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections, saying a strong partnership between the Federal Government and an APC-led administration in the state would provide an opportunity for greater coordination of development initiatives.
The governorship candidate said his ambition to govern Oyo State was anchored on the desire to provide purposeful, inclusive and people-centred leadership.
Alli said his administration, if elected, would prioritise education, security, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, youth empowerment, economic development, improved welfare and local government autonomy.
He said Oyo State had enormous potential in agriculture, commerce, industry, tourism and human capital, stressing that the state required deliberate policies to transform these resources into opportunities for its people.
“We are seeking the mandate to build an Oyo where our children can receive quality education, our farmers can produce without fear, our young people can find opportunities and our communities can benefit from meaningful infrastructure.
“Our campaign is not about political power for its own sake. It is about service, development and restoring greater confidence in the ability of government to improve the lives of our people,” Alli said.
The governorship candudate urged APC members across the 33 local government areas and 351 wards of the state to close ranks and work collectively for the success of the party’s candidates.
He said the party’s senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates should be regarded as part of one political team committed to advancing the interests of Oyo State.
The APC candidate also called on political actors in the state to conduct their campaigns peacefully and focus on issues capable of improving the lives of citizens.
Alli commended Nigerians for their resilience in the face of economic and social challenges, saying their sacrifices and determination remained critical to the country’s progress.
He called for greater patriotism, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, warning that ethnic, religious and political divisions could undermine the nation’s development.
“Let us use this Independence Anniversary to renew our commitment to Nigeria. We must build bridges rather than walls, promote unity rather than division and place the interests of our people above personal considerations.
“For Oyo State, I appeal to our people to remain united and support the APC team as we seek a new direction for the state under our collective leadership,” Alli said.
He congratulated President Tinubu, the Federal Government, governments at all levels and Nigerians on the 66th Independence Anniversary.
Alli prayed for peace, security and prosperity in Nigeria, calling on citizens to remain hopeful and committed to the task of nation-building.
