Action Alliance (AA) governorship candidate in Oyo state, Comrade Sikiru Bayo Titilola-Sodo, has pledged to implement local government autonomy in the state if elected in the 2027 general elections. This pledge was made during his appearance at the Guest Forum, organised by the Oyo State Correspondent’s Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). He expressed his commitment to enforcing this autonomy, citing the Supreme Court judgement that supports it.
Comrade Titilola-Sodo lamented that state governors in Nigeria have hindered local government administration despite the constitutional provision for a three-tier system of government. According to him, Section 162 of the Nigeria Constitution recognises the federal, state, and local governments as separate entities. However, many governors have failed to acknowledge and implement this provision, thereby limiting the development of local governments.
The AA governorship candidate criticised the current system, where state governors control the funds allocated to local governments. He noted that as a Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Labour Matters, he was part of the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) but observed that many states, including Oyo, do not allow local governments access to their allocations. This, he believes, hampers development in the 774 local governments across the federation.
Comrade Titilola-Sodo also addressed the issue of his relationship with Governor Seyi Makinde and the Allied People’s Movement (APM) governorship candidate, Hon Bimbo Adekanmbi. He stated that he had no plans to step down for Adekanmbi, citing their different roles in the Makinde government. According to him, Adekanmbi was brought in as a contractor and was only signing cheques, whereas he was part of the think-tank that built the government.
Comrade Titilola-Sodo highlighted his contributions to the Makinde government and expressed his disagreement with Adekanmbi's candidacy. He noted that Adekanmbi also worked with Senator Abiola Ajimobi's government and that people are unaware of Adekanmbi's role in Ajimobi's administration. The AA governorship candidate emphasised that those who built the Makinde government would never support Adekanmbi's candidacy for the Oyo Government House in 2027.
In addition to his plans for local government autonomy, Comrade Titilola-Sodo outlined his vision for education in Oyo state. He promised to rebuild dilapidated school buildings and construct new ones if elected. Many primary and secondary schools in the state currently have dilapidated buildings, which he believes need urgent attention. His goal is to improve the educational infrastructure in the state.
Comrade Titilola-Sodo's commitment to implementing local government autonomy and improving education in Oyo state are key aspects of his campaign. His determination to enforce the Supreme Court judgement on local government autonomy and his plans for education have been well-received by some segments of the electorate. As the 2027 general elections approach, his campaign is expected to gain more momentum.
Key points
- Comrade Titilola-Sodo pledges to implement local government autonomy in Oyo state if elected in 2027.
- He criticises state governors for hindering local government administration despite the constitutional provision for a three-tier system of government.
- He promises to rebuild dilapidated school buildings and construct new ones to improve education in Oyo state.
