The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Oyo State, Bimbo Adekanmbi, has declared that he is prepared to face criticism and opposition from the people if he fails to meet their expectations, should he be elected governor in 2027. Adekanmbi made the declaration on Thursday at a media hangout with journalists in […] The post Don’t spare me if I fail as governor, Adekanmbi tells Oyo voters appeared first on Tribune Online .
The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Oyo State, Bimbo Adekanmbi, has declared that he is prepared to face criticism and opposition from the people if he fails to meet their expectations, should he be elected governor in 2027.
Adekanmbi made the declaration on Thursday at a media hangout with journalists in Ibadan, where he presented his vision for the state and outlined some of the priorities of his proposed administration.
He said his decision to contest the governorship was not driven by the desire for political power, but by the need to provide what he described as purposeful and accountable leadership for the people of Oyo State.
The APM candidate said he understood that public office came with scrutiny and criticism, adding that any governor must be willing to accept responsibility for both successes and failures in office.
“If I fail to do well as governor, I know people are waiting to criticise me and fight me, but I am ready,” he said.
“I am ready to be held accountable because governance is about the people and not about the individual occupying the office.”
Adekanmbi said his administration, if elected, would focus on areas including economic development, education, healthcare, infrastructure, security, agriculture and youth employment.
He said Oyo State needed a government capable of moving beyond policy formulation to implementing programmes that would have a direct impact on the lives of residents.
On the economy, the APM candidate said he would seek to create an environment conducive to investment and business growth, while reducing bureaucratic obstacles confronting entrepreneurs.
He also identified agriculture as a major area of opportunity for the state, promising to support farmers with improved access to inputs, modern farming techniques, financing, processing facilities and markets.
Adekanmbi said the state must move beyond the production of raw agricultural commodities by developing processing and value chains that would create jobs and generate additional revenue.
On youth development, he said his administration would prioritise skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and other opportunities capable of making young people economically productive.
“We cannot continue to tell our young people to wait for government jobs when the government alone cannot employ everybody.
“What we need is a government that will create the conditions for young people to become employers of labour,” he said.
On education, Adekanmbi promised to improve public schools through rehabilitation and the provision of essential learning facilities, while strengthening technical and vocational education.
He said the education system should be better aligned with the demands of the modern economy by equipping students and graduates with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
The APM candidate also promised to strengthen primary healthcare centres across the state and improve access to affordable medical services, particularly for residents in rural communities.
According to him, residents should not be compelled to travel long distances before accessing basic healthcare.
On infrastructure, Adekanmbi said his administration would adopt a coordinated approach to road development, with emphasis on improving connectivity between rural communities, agricultural centres, markets and urban areas.
He also promised to strengthen collaboration between government, security agencies and communities to improve the security of lives and property across the state.
Adekanmbi said economic development would be difficult to achieve without adequate security, stressing that residents and investors needed an environment where they could live, work and conduct business safely.
He further pledged to run a transparent and accountable administration, insisting that public resources must be used for the benefit of the people.
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The APM candidate said he would welcome constructive criticism from journalists, civil society organisations and members of the public, describing criticism as an important tool for improving governance.
“I am not going into government to silence people. If you see something that is wrong, tell me. If I make a mistake, criticise me. If the criticism is constructive, it will help us to correct ourselves and serve the people better,” he said.
Adekanmbi urged Oyo residents to assess the governorship candidates ahead of the 2027 election based on their programmes, competence, integrity and capacity to deliver, rather than party affiliation alone.
He also urged journalists to continue to scrutinise the promises of political candidates and provide voters with the information needed to make informed choices at the polls.
The APM candidate said his campaign would focus on issues affecting residents rather than personal attacks on political opponents.
