The Oyo State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. (Dr.) Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, has urged Nigerians to renew their faith in the country and work collectively towards building a united, peaceful and prosperous nation.
Alli made the call in his Independence Day message issued on Thursday in Ibadan to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
He described the anniversary as an opportunity for citizens to reflect on the sacrifices of the nation’s founding fathers and recommit themselves to the task of nation-building.
According to him, Nigeria’s challenges can be overcome through responsible leadership, patriotism and collective action, urging citizens to remain united and committed to building a stronger, more prosperous and secure country.
“Independence Day is not merely a celebration of freedom from colonial rule; it is a solemn reminder of our collective responsibility to preserve, strengthen and improve the Nigeria handed over to us by our founding fathers.
“We must never lose faith in Nigeria. Despite the challenges confronting the nation, our country remains endowed with enormous human and natural resources capable of making it one of the most prosperous nations in the world,” he said.
Alli also called for support and cooperation for the administration of President Bola Tinubu as it implements economic reforms aimed at repositioning the country and laying the foundation for sustainable development.
He urged Nigerians to support what he described as the Federal Government’s efforts to move the country beyond economic reforms and stabilisation towards increased production, investment and shared prosperity.
Turning to Oyo State, the APC candidate appealed to residents to support Tinubu and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
He said stronger cooperation between the Federal Government and an APC-led administration in Oyo State would create opportunities for greater coordination of development initiatives.
Alli said his ambition to govern the state was driven by a desire to provide purposeful, inclusive and people-centred leadership.
He listed education, security, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, youth empowerment, economic development, improved welfare and local government autonomy among the areas his proposed administration would prioritise if elected.
According to him, Oyo State possesses significant potential in agriculture, commerce, industry, tourism and human capital, but deliberate policies would be required to convert these resources into tangible opportunities for residents.
“We are seeking the mandate to build an Oyo State where our children can receive quality education, our farmers can produce without fear, our young people can find opportunities and our communities can benefit from meaningful infrastructure.
“Our campaign is not about political power for its own sake. It is about service, development and restoring greater confidence in the ability of government to improve the lives of our people,” Alli said.
The governorship candidate also called on APC members across the state’s 33 local government areas and 351 wards to close ranks and work collectively towards the success of the party’s candidates.
He said the party’s senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates should be viewed as members of one political team committed to advancing the interests of Oyo State.
Alli congratulated President Tinubu, the Federal Government, governments at all levels and Nigerians on the 66th Independence Anniversary.
He prayed for peace, security and prosperity across the country, while urging Nigerians to remain hopeful and committed to the task of nation-building.
