Alli campaign tackles Makinde over hunger comment, LG autonomy

The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has tackled the Oyo State Governor and Allied People’s Movement presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, for failing to address hunger in Oyo State despite increased funds from the federation account.

The campaign organisation, in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, said Makinde’s admission of more money from the federation account to Oyo State was a confirmation of the success of the economic reform policies of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Makinde had admitted in Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Monday, that Oyo State received more money from the federation account, but added that he had not been able to reduce hunger in the state.

He also lamented the dependence of the state on money from the Federal Account Allocation Committee, following the dwindling internally generated revenue.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation described Makinde’s statement as a sad and clear reality of what Oyo State had been going through in terms of purposeful governance in the last seven years.

“If, through the ingenuity and purposeful leadership of President Bola Tinubu, Oyo State allocation from the federation account has increased tremendously, should it also be the duty of the President to ensure judicious use of the money?

“If you have acknowledged that monthly, you have been getting more money from the federation account, who are you expecting to come and help you to fight hunger in your state? Is it President Tinubu?

“Most importantly, this same Governor Makinde has deliberately refused to allow local governments in Oyo State to function. He has been everywhere, opposing local government autonomy so as to continue to spend both the state and local council funds.

“Therefore, for the people of Oyo State, waiting a day longer to stop the extension of Makinde’s cluelessness beyond 2027 is what must not be allowed to happen and, on February 6, 2027, the governor and the man through whom he desires to extend his clueless government will be rejected by the people,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the APC in Oyo State, Sharafadeen Alli, has unveiled a sweeping reform agenda for the state, promising full autonomy for local governments, a 13th-month salary for civil servants, and a massive overhaul of the education and health sectors if elected in 2027.

Alli, while speaking at a high-powered dialogue on the future of the state, organised by the Oyo Rising Citizens Forum in Ibadan, the state capital, declared that under his watch, local governments would become fully independent from May 29, 2027.

He said, “My administration will not spend one kobo belonging to local governments. They will build their schools, build their health centres and employ their own workers. That era of stifling the councils is over.”

On education, Alli, who currently represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, further promised to “crash classroom population to a maximum of 30 pupils per class,” a policy he said would not only improve learning but create thousands of jobs for teachers and fresh graduates.

He pledged to comply with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s recommendation of allocating at least 18 per cent of the state budget to education, train and retrain teachers, and employ more hands to bridge the deficit.

On health, the APC governorship candidate promised a functional general hospital in each of the 33 local government areas and at least one fully equipped primary healthcare centre in each of the 351 wards in the state.

“Let me say this, I would personally facilitate and inaugurate at least three fully equipped health centres across Oyo South Senatorial District and hand them over to the state government before the election.”

On the controversial circular road project, Alli promised decisive action within 72 hours of assuming office.

“I will set up a committee within 48 to 72 hours to address the grievances of all affected residents. We will not seize people’s land, and we will not sell state assets.

“To revive the economy, my government would leverage agriculture and mining, establish at least one cottage industry in each local government area and set up parabolic dryers in all seven towns in Ibarapa and two in each senatorial district before December,” he explained.

He also promised to revive the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, engage youths through vocational and political opportunities, empower women with key appointments, and ensure prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities.

Speaking during the inauguration of local government campaign managers for the BSA/Adedeji team at the APC Campaign Office, Dandaru, Mokola, in Ibadan North Local Government Area of the state on Monday, Alli said the party was set to win the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and House of Assembly elections in Oyo.

The APC governorship candidate, therefore, admonished party leaders and teeming supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said the newly inaugurated campaign managers had a crucial role to play in translating the party’s political structures into effective grassroots mobilisation across the state.

Alli urged them to consolidate the party’s structures in their respective local government areas, wards and communities, while reaching out to party members, supporters and other stakeholders.

The APC candidate said, “We are strategically positioned to win the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and House of Assembly elections in Oyo in 2027.

“But victory requires hard work at the grassroots. We must go to the people, engage them and strengthen our structures across the state.

“Our local government campaign managers have a major responsibility to ensure that the APC is firmly rooted in every local government, ward and community.”

He further urged them to regard their appointments as a call to service, stressing that sustained engagement with the grassroots would be central to the party’s campaign strategy.

Alli also called for unity and teamwork among APC leaders and members, saying the party’s electoral objective could only be achieved through effective coordination and collective effort.

He said, “This is not about individuals. It is about the party and our collective responsibility to build a stronger APC in Oyo.”

The Oyo APC candidate advised the managers to remain focused and committed to their assignments, while ensuring that the party’s message and programmes reached the grassroots.

Earlier, the campaign Director-General, Yemi Aderibigbe, said the inauguration represented another step in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 elections.

He expressed confidence in the party’s organisational capacity and urged members to work together to consolidate its structures ahead of the elections.

The PUNCH reports that Alli had, in July 2026, approved key appointments into his campaign organisation to strengthen preparations for the 2027 governorship election.

The appointments followed the earlier appointment of Aderibigbe as the DG of the campaign organisation, reflecting the candidate’s commitment to an inclusive and result-oriented campaign structure.

Alli, in a statement issued in Ibadan, said, “Under the new arrangement, Sola Ogunbode was appointed Deputy Director-General to support the Director-General in coordinating campaign activities across the state.

“Also appointed as Assistant Directors-General are Lowo Obisesan for Oyo South, Asimiyu Alarape for Oyo Central and Rasaq Raji for Oyo North Senatorial District.

“The appointments are expected to deepen grassroots mobilisation, enhance coordination across the three senatorial districts and reinforce the campaign’s readiness ahead of the 2027 governorship election in the state,” he added.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).