Ahead 2027 elections, Hon Bimbo Adekanmbi, the Allied People’s Movement (APM) candidate in Oyo State, has urged media professionals to evaluate all candidates seeking to govern the state on competence, character and value.
He urged them to scrutinize candidates’ words and promises to ensure that the next governor possesses competence, character, experience, and a clear value proposition to move the state forward.
He made the appeal during an interactive session, on Thursday, with members of the National Association of Public Affairs Analysts (NAPAA), general managers of radio stations, political programme producers, Correspondents’ Chapel, online publishers, and social media influencers.
The media and 2027 elections
Adekanmbi, a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff and later Commissioner for Finance under the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
He described pen-pushers as the conscience of society, stressing that they must rise to the occasion and hold candidates accountable.
Adekanmbi noted that, while he didn’t boast about qualifications, he possessed the technical expertise, governance experience, and native intelligence required to take Oyo State to greater heights.
“As journalists, you carry a very sensitive responsibility as the Fourth Estate of the Realm.
“As campaigns for the 2027 elections begin, you must sieve all candidates and evaluate them thoroughly, regardless of party affiliation, so that the people do not suffer.
“Governor Makinde has raised the bar of governance. Anyone coming after him must not lower the standard,” he said.
Adekanmbi highlighted his professional and academic credentials, including degrees in Accounting and Applied Accounting, an MBA in Strategy and Finance, fellowship of the ACCA, and certification in SAP.
He recounted that he has worked in some of the best places in the world, including Birmingham City Council in the UK, where he designed and implemented financial systems, among others.
Adekanmbi referenced that his specialty involved solving difficulty and challenging situations, noting that his reputation as a problem solver also came to the fore during the Ajimobi administration.
He cited the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project, where his intervention secured a World Bank commendation after initial threats to withdraw funding.
On whether he had any pact with Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, Adekanmbi clarified that there was none.
He explained that despite his early criticisms of Makinde’s administration, the governor recognised his value proposition and capacity to build on Oyo’s progress.
“Governor Makinde has achieved a lot of beautiful things, and through the bridge he has built, I am ready to take Oyo State to the promised land,” Adekanmbi said.
He added that, while Makinde encouraged him to chart his own path, the goodwill of the current administration will be instrumental in convincing the electorate that he can sustain and expand on its impactful legacy.
Adekanmbi emphasised that, regardless of opposition narratives, Governor Makinde has raised the bar of governance in the state and established key baselines that future administrations must build upon.
He cited how, for instance, Governor Makinde has set a great benchmark on the issue of prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities.
He noted that, if elected, he would have no difficulty sustaining the payment of salaries, pensions, and gratuities, having “learnt from the best” in the last seven years.
When asked to elaborate on his experience, Adekanmbi recalled coordinating Governor Ajimobi’s back office for nearly a year before commissioners were appointed in his second term.
He also highlighted his role as the Commissioner for Finance in automating payment of salaries.
“The Youth Employment Scheme (YES-O), which engaged about 20,000 youths across sectors, was based on a brief I wrote. I also blueprinted the implementation of BIM in the Ministry of Lands and Housing, which became a lasting legacy.
“The Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue was once not independent. I drafted and implemented the law that gave it independence, transforming it into a meritocratic agency that attracts top talent and incentivizes performance,” he explained.
Adekanmbi further pointed to his leadership as the chairman of the committee on the Ibadan Airport upgrade, where he successfully navigated political hostilities among nine federal agencies to secure approvals.
He credited the boss of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and members of the committee for their collaboration, noting that the project would not have advanced without the intervention.
On education, Adekanmbi commended Governor Makinde’s strides in reducing out-of-school children through strategic investments in the education sector.
He pledged to deploy data-driven solutions to further tackle the issue, saying that he had dedicated a section of his manifesto to digital economy and innovation, aimed at expanding access to education and creating equal opportunities for youth and women.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the 110-kilometre Ibadan Circular Road, Adekanmbi stressed that the project has a lot of economic importance and it was connecting Ibadan’s four cardinal points, and opening surrounding local government areas to development.
“The Circular Road is an international concept. Governor Makinde must be commended for the courage to embark on it. Baba Lam Adesina conceptualised the project and succesive administrations made efforts.
“The discussion is not about whether or not the project is a good one; it is. I have met with affected property owners twice; all they want is dignity and fairness.
“As a property owner myself, I understand their concerns. But let me be clear: we will not stop the project, because it is a great project,” Adekanmbi declared.
He emphasised that his experiences in governance, finance, and infrastructure development uniquely position him to build on Governor Makinde’s legacy.
He assured that his administration would sustain the progress already achieved while charting new paths for the growth of Oyo State.
