The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, has declared that the protection of lives and welfare of citizens would remain the foundation of his administration if elected, insisting that no political ambition or public office is worth the loss of a single life.
Oyebamiji made the declaration during an interactive session with journalists, where he also questioned the utilisation of Osun State’s increased monthly revenue inflows, asking why residents have yet to see corresponding development across the state.
“There is no position that is worth killing a soul. The welfare of the people and the security of the people are the main variables in my governance. Every other thing is complementary”, he said.
The APC standard bearer said his vision of governance would be anchored on inclusiveness, accountability and responsiveness, stressing that government policies must emerge from a clear understanding of the needs of the people.
According to him, different groups within the society require specific interventions, noting that the concerns of artisans, civil servants, traders and market women cannot be addressed with a one-size-fits-all approach.
“The needs of artisans are different from those of civil servants and marketers. Good leadership starts by understanding these needs and addressing them. We need to listen to these categories of people and run an inclusive government”, he said.
Oyebamiji also compared the current administration in Osun with previous APC governments led by former governors Rauf Aregbesola and Adegboyega Oyetola, arguing that those administrations executed more visible projects despite operating with fewer resources.
He raised concerns over what he described as the lack of commensurate development despite the state’s improved financial position following increased federal allocations under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“This state has been receiving between N16 billion and N17 billion monthly since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came on board. What has this administration been doing with the money”? he queried.
“You can go around the capital city in Osogbo and across the entire state and you will barely find projects to justify these funds”.
The APC candidate said good governance requires transparency, collective responsibility and effective management of public resources, stressing that government must be driven by the needs of citizens rather than political interests.
Drawing from management principles, Oyebamiji said successful leadership thrives on participation and shared ownership of development objectives.
“In management, there is management by objectives, which means getting everyone involved. Running the government is for the people”, he added.
He assured residents that his administration would prioritise security, economic empowerment, prudent resource management and people-centred policies, saying restoring public confidence in governance requires leadership that places citizens’ welfare above politics and ensures public funds deliver measurable improvements.