Ibadan – The Oyo state governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Olooye Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke (FCA), has assured the Association of Traditional Baales, otherwise known as community leaders, of full implementation of local government autonomy, better renumerations and urban renewal, which he said are critical tools to both the grassroots and state development.
He maintained that these would form important parts of his programmes to boost local economies, creates safer and healthier living spaces, if voted into power in 2027 general elections.
He made the disclosure at the weekend during a strategic meeting with the Baales across all the eleven local government areas in Ibadanland, the Oyo state capital.
According to him in a statement made available to journalists by his media team on Sunday, the urban renewal would improve the neglected areas in major cities across the state, while the local government autonomy would enhance security and grassroots development as well guarantee better renumerations for the traditional institutions.
Olooye Adegoke, who is the Oota Balogun of Ibadanland, while speaking to a large audience of the Baales, said he would upgrade infrastructures, boost local economy, and create safer and healthier environment through local government autonomy and urban renewal.
The ADC governorship candidate reiterated his desire to give the senior citizens from 75 years and above monthly allowances, as well as free health care, while there would be provision of jobs for the teeming youths of the state.
According to him, “local government autonomy and urban renewal will bring about economic growth, job creation, new businesses, commercial hubs, and construction projects as well as creating local jobs.
“As part of our urban renewal programme, we will create attractive public spaces and modern utilities which will draw new commercial investments and tourism infrastructure. Inner roads will be rehabilitated, while new ones will be built, so as to ease the provision of social amenities such as pipe borne water.
“There will be upgraded roads, public transit, and utility networks which will improve daily connectivity in Ibadan, Ibarapa, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Saki, Iseyin and other urban centres in Oyo State,” he explained.
“I am a staunch advocate of the local government autonomy; it is the closest tier of government to the people. The state government is often distant from the grassroots and may not be easily accessible to the local population.
“Local government administration is closer to the people, and if the elected local government executives possess the authority and financial resources to act, the grassroots will be the primary beneficiaries,” he added.
Adegoke also promised to strengthen traditional institutions by ensuring the prompt release of their statutory five per cent share of local government allocations.
The ADC candidate said his administration would be guided by fairness, equity and justice, adding that available resources were sufficient to drive development across the state.
“There will be a better renumeration for our traditional leaders through local government autonomy in the sense that their five per cent allocation from the local government allocations will get to them as and when due.
“We will also introduce monthly allowances for our elders from 75 years of age and provision of free healthcare for them as well as provision of pipe borne water across the state,” he said.
The baales, speaking through their president, Baale Folorunsho Durojaiye Bamitale Ige of Olounde Ige in Oluyole Local Government Area, thanked Olooye Adegoke for listing local government autonomy as parts of his lofty ideas and programmes, appealing to him to make local government autonomy a reality when elected into power in 2027.
They maintained that granting local government financial autonomy would enhance grassroots development and enable councils to maintain rural roads more effectively, and enhancement of security.
