The Oyo State gubernatorial 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 more 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-centered 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 has 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 State 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 candidate 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.
He congratulated President Tinubu, the Federal Government, and 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.
Packaged by Temitayo Afolabi
