AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has described the criticism of the Oyo AHEAD manifesto by the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, as an expression of frustration over what it called a superior development blueprint for Oyo State.
The organisation said Adekanmbi’s reaction reflected desperation to defend the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde despite what it described as shortcomings in grassroots development, healthcare delivery, education, agriculture and youth development.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Director of Media and Publicity of SSACO, Bisi Oladele, said the Oyo AHEAD manifesto presented by Senator Alli offered practical solutions to the challenges confronting the state after seven years of the Makinde administration.
The statement accused the present government of weakening the local government system, underperforming in healthcare delivery and failing to translate huge budgetary allocations to health, education and agriculture into tangible results.
It also alleged that Oyo State had the highest number of out-of-school children in the South-West, while several hospitals lacked doctors and government-promoted farm settlements and estates were no longer functional.
SSACO argued that the similarity between some of Alli’s proposed policies and initiatives introduced by previous administrations did not make the manifesto unoriginal, noting that healthcare, education, employment, workers’ welfare and economic development remained fundamental responsibilities of government.
According to the organisation, the strength of the Oyo AHEAD manifesto lies in its identification of the state’s challenges, proposed solutions and measurable development targets.
It further argued that Alli’s experience in public administration, legislative service and community leadership gave him the credentials to implement the proposed policies.
The campaign organisation highlighted Alli’s previous positions as Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, Secretary to the Oyo State Government and Chief of Staff to former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, as well as his current representation of Oyo South Senatorial District.
SSACO maintained that these experiences had given the APC governorship candidate a deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of the people.
The organisation also challenged Adekanmbi to explain why existing primary healthcare centres with inadequate personnel and facilities should prevent a future administration from establishing better-equipped and adequately staffed health facilities across communities.
It further questioned the state’s performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), the state of public hospitals and the capacity of local governments to address grassroots challenges.
The statement read voters to support Alli, describing him as a familiar and trusted leader with the experience and political background to provide purposeful leadership and people-oriented development across the state.
