Dr Ayobami Wasiu Lam-Adesina, on Monday, formally declared his ambition to contest the governorship seat in Oyo State in 2027, declaring that his intention and plan was to return the state to the path of greatness.
Ayobami Lam-Adesina, the eldest son of former Oyo State Governor Lamidi Adesina, made the declaration while speaking at the rejuvenated Guest Forum of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), on Wednesday.
Outlining a comprehensive development agenda patterned in the Chief Obafemi Awolowo-model for the old Western Region, he promised sweeping educational, healthcare, agricultural, and infrastructural reforms to restore Oyo State to its former glory.
Lam-Adesina, reflected on his political inspiration and a childhood spent in Idi-Arere, an Ibadan suburb, and noted that his humble beginnings shaped his understanding of the needs of ordinary citizens.
Lam-Adesina declared that a vision for the public schools and the youths is central to his campaign, stressing the urgent need to revitalise public education.
He argued that quality schooling should not be a luxury reserved for the elite, insisting that public institutions must provide equal opportunities for all children.
He lamented the decline in standards across the South-West, recalling a time when the region led the country in all facets of development.
Lam-Adesina pointed to landmark structures like Liberty Stadium (Obafemi Awolowo Stadium) and Cocoa House as symbols of progress driven by visionary leadership.
To tackle rising unemployment, the governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) pledged to revive technical education.
“Not all youths need university degrees,” he noted, emphasising that practical skills are vital for the modern economy.
He further proposed the revitalisation of farm settlements to boost food production and create jobs for graduates.
On health reforms, Lam-Adesina promised to expand access to free basic medical care, with reference to his Ayo Lam Care Foundation’s outreach programmes, which he said have screened residents for hypertension and diabetes.
Underscoring the importance of electricity to economic growth, the APC governorship promised to pursue independent power generation in line with the Electricity Act 2023.
The governorship aspirant also called for inclusive governance, urging the citizens to look beyond individual ambitions and focus on the future of the coming generations.
He warned that continued economic decline could aggravate the Japa syndrome and drive more residents abroad, leaving the state, may the entire South-West, underdeveloped.
“This is not about me,” he said. “It is about the future of our children and grandchildren. We must work together to rebuild Oyo State and secure a better tomorrow.”
Speaking earlier at the NUJ Guest Forum, the chairman of the NUJ, Oyo State Council, Comrade Akeem Abas, reaffirmed the union’s commitment to professionalism.
He emphasised that the forum aimed to deepen democracy through constructive dialogue with political aspirants.
Abas praised Lam-Adesina, a professor of Economic Development Planning, for his willingness to engage with the public, through the media.
