Senator Adeola Olamilekan Yayi, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Ogun State, has unveiled his manifesto, dubbed the "ITESIWAJU Agenda." This comprehensive development framework aims to drive progress across multiple sectors in the state. The agenda was introduced during a meeting with members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Ogun State. Yayi emphasized the importance of policy continuity, citing Lagos State's development experience since 1999 as a prime example.
Yayi argued that Lagos' development was partly due to its relatively seamless transition from one administration to another. He believes Ogun State can achieve similar results if successive governments maintain and complete viable projects initiated by their predecessors. The APC governorship candidate plans to continue infrastructure projects inherited from the current government, rather than abandoning them. This approach, he claims, will accelerate economic and infrastructural development in the state.
The ITESIWAJU Agenda is built around nine pillars, represented by the acronym ITESIWAJU: Infrastructure, Tourism and Culture, Economic Empowerment, Security and Welfare, Inclusive Growth and Well-being, Women, Youth and Poverty Eradication, Agriculture and Food Security, Job Creation and Industrialisation, and Urbanization and Transparency. Yayi's agenda is the result of extensive consultations with thousands of people across Ogun State. He asserts that the document is not merely a political tool but a genuine development framework.
Yayi urged other candidates and political parties to present their programs to the electorate, allowing voters to assess competing plans ahead of the 2027 election. He dismissed the controversy surrounding his ancestral roots as mere political maneuvering and opposition desperation for power. Yayi remains focused on Ogun State's development, refusing to be distracted or intimidated by the controversy.
The Ogun State IPAC Chairman, Comrade Abayomi Sanyaolu, praised Yayi for his efforts across the state's three Senatorial Districts. Sanyaolu cautioned governorship candidates against using vulgar language and personal attacks, advocating for issue-based campaigns instead. He encouraged candidates to present their manifestos to the electorate and focus on substantive issues.
Yayi's ITESIWAJU Agenda aims to address the needs of Ogun State across multiple sectors. He expressed concern that discontinuity in government can delay development by several years. Yayi stressed that projects should be evaluated based on their benefits to the people, rather than the political administration that initiated them. His administration, if elected, will prioritize viable infrastructure projects and foster economic growth.
Key to Yayi's vision is an issue-based campaign, where governorship candidates clearly outline their plans for youth development, women empowerment, industrialization, agriculture, infrastructure, security, job creation, and economic growth. By focusing on these critical areas, Yayi believes Ogun State can achieve significant progress and become a model of development, leveraging its economic and human resources.
Key points
- Senator Adeola Olamilekan Yayi launches the ITESIWAJU Agenda to drive development in Ogun State.
- The agenda emphasizes continuity in governance and development policies.
- Yayi cites Lagos State's development experience as a model for Ogun State's growth.
