A group, Obafemi-Owode Strong Alliance, and a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Kayode Soneye, have urged the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, to prioritise road infrastructure and other community projects if elected governor in 2027.
They made the call on Thursday during a one-million-man march organised by the group in support of Yayi, President Bola Tinubu and other APC candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The participants, including community leaders, artisans, youths and other stakeholders, marched in their numbers along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, through the Mowe-Ofada road, as part of efforts to mobilise support for APC candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
They argued that improved roads, electricity and other infrastructure were among the expectations they had of the prospective administration.
Speaking at the rally, the lawmaker representing Obafemi-Owode State Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Soneye, said the state had a deficit in road infrastructure and urged Yayi to address the problem if elected.
“The first thing I will advise Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Yayi when he is elected is to concentrate more on road projects and road infrastructure,” he said.
He added that the incoming administration should provide temporary relief for communities where roads could not be constructed immediately.
“Where he cannot put roads, he should start providing palliatives and grading the roads. He should also pay attention to education,” the lawmaker said.
Soneye expressed confidence in the APC’s electoral prospects in Obafemi-Owode, saying the turnout at the march reflected residents’ support for the party.
He also thanked the organisers and participants, claiming that they had funded the mobilisation themselves out of their commitment to the APC.
The convener of OOSA, Rafiu Oseni, said the group was mobilising residents to secure substantial votes for Adeola and Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Oseni said the alliance had encouraged voter registration across communities and was targeting 90 per cent participation among registered voters in the local government.
“We cannot precisely predict the exact figure, but we promise that we will bring out 90 per cent of all registered voters,” he said.
Oseni attributed the group’s support for Adeola to what he described as the senator’s contributions to community development, adding that the march was intended to demonstrate residents’ backing for his governorship ambition.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Obafemi-Owode Zonal Community Development Committee, Gboyega Adeleke, said community leaders had endorsed Adeola because of his contributions to projects in their communities.
Adeleke, who said the zonal committee comprised more than 3,476 community development associations, cited financial support for a community project as one of the reasons for the endorsement.
He said Adeola, alongside other elected representatives, had contributed N30m towards a community project, adding that residents were expecting the delivery of transformers, road repairs and solar-powered streetlights.
“It is not about the money, but about the projects. For a long time, we have been using our own money for development projects, including roads, transformers and health centres,” Adeleke said.
He added that Adeola had promised to help repair three major roads, provide three transformers and install 50 solar-powered streetlights in the community.
Adeleke expressed confidence that the senator would fulfil the promises, adding that the community expected improved infrastructure if he became governor.