By FATAI JOY-C
Today, we must reason to the reality of our progress in Oyo state and look back to where we are coming from, where we are and the place we are ending to. The evolution of Oyo politics and the progressive ideal
since the return to democratic rule in 1999, Oyo State has remained a crucible of vibrant political consciousness. From the turbulent formative years of the Fourth Republic to the defining battles between conservative tendencies and progressive ideologies, the people of Oyo State have consistently shown that power belongs to the masses.
Like i said in one of my article, history has taught us that true development only happens when leadership is anchored on a progressive framework, one that prioritizes institutional strength, grassroots welfare, and economic autonomy over elitist convenience. As the clock ticks toward the 2027 gubernatorial election and the ultimate race to Agodi State Secretariat, the electorate is once again faced with a defining choice and the question from many is, “do we embrace tested, thoroughbred administrative competence, or do we fall for the political chess games of imposition?
In reality two political have a chance to rule again in 2027. Either PDP in another brand called APM or the old progressive party named APC. To not waste much of your time, we need to examine their individual candidate. To understand what true executive capacity looks like, one must look back at the tenure of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja. Behind every stable, result-oriented administration is a capable coordinator, and for Ladoja’s government, that pillar was Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli (BSA).
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Serving meritoriously as the secretary to the state government (SSG) and chief of staff, Alli brought order, institutional discipline, and strategic vision to state administration. Long before stepping into the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly as a federal lawmaker, BSA had already mastered the art of managing complex state machinery, balancing political interests, and delivering governance that touched ordinary lives. His track record from his early days as the elected executive chairman of Ibadan North Local Government to his stellar leadership at Odu’a Investment Company Limited shows a man whose career has been defined by steady competence, not political opportunism.
On the other side of the political divide, history also demands absolute accountability regarding those who have previously held levers of power. During the administration of the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Abimbola Adekanmbi served in high-profile capacities as deputy chief of staff and later as commissioner for finance and budget planning. However, public assessment of his stewardship during those years highlights severe administrative shortcomings. Rather than deploying financial expertise to alleviate the economic pressures on citizens, that era was marked by severe austerity, systemic disconnection from the grassroots, and policies that left many ordinary workers and businesses struggling.
A leader whose past administrative output created friction and discontent can not suddenly rebrand as the saviour of the very people who bore the brunt of those policies.
In reality of today’s politics, Oyo State politics is facing a dangerous threat, the spectre of political imposition. Governor Seyi Makinde is approaching the twilight of his constitutional two terms. For nearly eight years, a massive army of loyalists, foot soldiers, and dedicated followers built, sustained, and bled for his political structure across the 33 local government areas. Yet, in a shocking display of political betrayal, the governor has reportedly turned his back on the very grassroots loyalists who carried his weight for almost a decade. Instead of rewarding loyalty, competence, and consistency, reports point toward a calculated move to handpick an external, some who left APC because of senatorial ambition, Abimbola Adekanmbi who is now moving through a rebranded PDP platforms called APM as a successor.
Why would a leader abandon a loyal political family? The writing is on the wall, the desperate push for imposition is a poorly disguised strategy to install a proxy whose primary assignment will be to cover up financial accountability and administrative atrocities accumulated over years in office. Oyo State cannot afford a caretaker arrangement designed to shield outgoing inadequacies at the expense of public treasury and collective progress.
Moreover, a politician who hops across political vehicles when convenient, and whose physical and developmental presence is virtually invisible in his own local government and village, has no moral standing to govern a cosmopolitan and politically savvy state like Oyo. Leadership is built from the ground up, rooted in community touchpoints, and tested through consistent fidelity to a political family. Someone who treats his own primary constituency as a seasonal platform can not suddenly claim to understand the nuanced pains of market women in Bodija, farmers in Oke-Ogun, artisans in Ogbomoso, or youths in Ibadan metropolis.
In stark contrast to the politics of godfatherism, imposition, and administrative obscurity stands Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli (BSA), the pride of the All Progressives Congress (APC). BSA represents the antithesis of everything flawed in current succession plots. He is a tested legislator, a seasoned legal mind, a grounded corporate strategist, and an unpretentious Omoluabi whose connection to the grassroots of Oyo State is organic and unbroken.
In the 10th National Assembly, Alli has distinguished himself through robust representation, bringing federal dividends home and championing people-oriented laws. From local government chairing to state-level SSG duties, his resume speaks of competence without baggage. Unlike candidates foisted on the populace through backroom deals, BSA understands party structure, respects party loyalists, and values the collective effort of every stakeholder.
The road to Agodi state secretariat in 2027 is not a playground for political experiments or desperate cover-ups. It is a sacred mandate that requires a steady hand, clean hands, and a proven heart. Oyo State must reject the trap of imposition. The electorate must rise above parochial interests and throw their weight behind a candidate whose competence is unquestionable and whose loyalty to the people is tested and trusted. Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli is that leader. Let us join hands, protect our collective commonwealth, and march forward with BSA toward a prosperous Oyo State. Thank you.
