The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has unveiled a nine-pillar development agenda, “Itesiwaju Ipinle Ogun,” promising to sustain viable projects and policies of previous administrations if elected governor in 2027.
Adeola unveiled the agenda on Monday during an engagement with members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Ogun State, where he also advocated issue-based campaigns ahead of the governorship election.
The senator, who represents Ogun West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, cited Lagos State as an example of how continuity in governance could facilitate sustained development, arguing that successive administrations had built on existing policies and projects since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
He said Ogun State could similarly achieve greater economic and infrastructural development if successive administrations evaluated and continued beneficial projects initiated by their predecessors rather than abandoning them for political reasons.
According to him, projects should be assessed based on their value and impact on the people, rather than the administration that initiated them.
“If Lagos could achieve what it has achieved through seamless transition of government from one administration to another, we can begin to imagine the multiplier effects that continuity can bring to the economy and development of Ogun,” he said.
Adeola said his administration, if elected, would continue viable infrastructure and development projects inherited from the present government, stressing that governance should be driven by long-term development objectives rather than political considerations.
He also challenged governorship candidates across political parties to make their programmes available to the electorate and engage in campaigns centred on policies and development issues.
“People must be able to know what your plans are for the youth, the economy, women, industrialisation, infrastructure, contractors and agriculture. Where are you taking us to? People should judge us on those issues,” he said.
Unveiling his proposed development framework, Adeola said the “Itesiwaju Ipinle Ogun” agenda was developed after extensive consultations across the state and was designed to address key areas of development.
He said the acronym ITESIWAJU represents:
I — Infrastructure
T — Tourism and Culture
E — Economic Empowerment
S — Security and Welfare
I — Inclusive Growth and Well-being
W — Women, Youth and Poverty Eradication
A — Agriculture and Food Security
J — Job Creation and Industrialisation
U — Urbanisation and Transparency
Adeola said the agenda was not merely a political document designed to secure electoral victory but a development framework intended to address the needs of Ogun residents across different sectors.
“This is not a document put together for the sake of putting a document together. It is not a document put together for the sake of grabbing power.
“I put this document together with all sense of purpose. A document that took me three years to put together. It is a document meticulously crafted to attend to every need of everyone of this state,” he said.
He said the framework emerged from consultations with thousands of residents across the state’s three senatorial districts, adding that Ogun had the human and economic resources required to achieve significant development.
The APC candidate also urged other governorship contenders to present their programmes to the electorate, saying voters should be given the opportunity to compare the various development plans before making their choice in 2027.
Adeola also dismissed the controversy over his ancestral roots, describing it as political manoeuvring and an attempt by opponents to distract attention from the issues surrounding the election.
He said he remained focused on his development vision for Ogun State and would not be intimidated or distracted by the controversy.
“My ancestral challenge is mere politics and desperation for power. I have a vision and believe in the development of this state, so I refuse to be bothered. I refuse to be blackmailed. Under my government, you must be eminently qualified to earn a position,” he said.
Earlier, the Ogun State Chairman of IPAC, Comrade Abayomi Sanyaolu, commended Adeola for what he described as his contributions across the three senatorial districts.
Sanyaolu urged all governorship candidates and their supporters to avoid inflammatory language, personal attacks and other forms of rhetoric capable of heating up the political environment.
He called on the candidates to focus their campaigns on their manifestos and development plans, allowing the electorate to make informed decisions based on the issues.