OYO AHEAD: The Barr. Sharafadeen Alli’s Blueprint for Oyo State Development and Good Governance in 2027// By Comrade Aderogba Taofik, mni, FCPA, MILT, MICS

As Oyo State approaches the 2027 governorship race, the conversation among political stakeholders, civil society, and everyday citizens keeps returning to one question: Who has the antecedents, capacity, tested experience and vision to move Oyo from potential to prosperity? For many within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and across party lines, the answer increasingly points to Barr. Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, the Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland and current Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District.

The phrase  'Oyo Ahead'  is more than a campaign slogan. It is a statement of intent. It is a pledge to development that touches every LGA, and governance that puts people first. It speaks to a future where governance is measured not by noise, but by results. It speaks to a state where development touches every local government, and where good governance becomes the standard, not the exception. 

Barr. Alli’s career shows a leader who has managed government from the inside, delivered at the grassroots, and continues to serve at the federal level. His public service record and developmental philosophy suggest he is prepared to lead that charge.

1. Tested Antecedents: Leadership Forged in Service

Good governance starts with experience and proven capacity. Barr. Alli’s record is built on responsibility at every level. He is not new to the burden of leadership. At 28, he was elected Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, where he introduced participatory grassroots budgeting and prioritized primary healthcare, sanitation, and youth programs. 

He then served under Governor Rashidi Ladoja in two critical roles: Secretary to the Oyo State Government (SSG) as well as Chief of staff. In those roles  he coordinated executive operations, managed policy implementation, and gained deep insight into running the machinery of state government. That experience gave him a full grasp of how decisions at the top translate to impact at the grassroots. 

As the SSG under Governor Rashidi Ladoja, he helped drive reforms that improved IGR, restored urban order, prioritized civil service welfare, and strengthened the Oyo state security architecture through Operation Burst. 

As Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, he delivered Heritage Mall and Cocoa Mall in Ibadan. He understands money, investment, and job creation. He brought corporate discipline to one of the oldest conglomerates in West Africa, expanding its portfolio, asset base and profitability.

Today, as Senator for Oyo South, he has continued that trajectory. His legislative interventions focus on constituency empowerment: solar-powered streetlights across 9 LGAs, boreholes in water-stressed communities, WAEC and JAMB support for students, and SME grants for women and youth. These are not promises. They are documented projects already impacting lives. That is what “Oyo Ahead” means in practice: leaders who deliver before they ask for the next mandate.

2. Developmental Agenda: From Ibadan to Ibarapa, Oke-Ogun to Ogbomosho

Barr. Alli’s developmental model is built on 4 pillars: Infrastructure, Human Capital, Security, and Economic Growth:

Infrastructure: His plan prioritizes completing abandoned road networks linking Oke-Ogun to the rest of the state, expanding rural electrification beyond Ibadan, and modernizing markets and motor parks to boost commerce. He understands that development cannot be concentrated in one axis. Oyo Ahead means every zone feels the impact. It means equitable development where no zone is left behind.

Human Capital: Education and health are central to development. His track record of sponsoring education for indigent students and supporting primary health centers shows his belief that a state is only as strong as its people. The plan is to upgrade PHCs, equip them with drugs and personnel, and introduce health insurance coverage for vulnerable households. For education, it means investing in technical and vocational training to match Oyo’s youth with 21st-century jobs.

Security: Having managed the executive office under Governor Ladoja and later helped shape Operation Burst, he knows peace comes first. “Oyo Ahead” means farmers can farm safely, businesses can operate, and community policing works with traditional institutions.

Economic Growth: Barr. Alli’s background as a lawyer and administrator gives him insight into ease-of-doing-business reforms. he understands regulatory reform and investment climate. The agenda includes supporting agribusiness across Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa, reviving moribund industries, and leveraging Ibadan’s status as a logistics and tech hub. The goal is simple: more jobs, more IGR, less dependence on federal allocations.

3. Good Governance: Unity, Accountability, and Empathy

Development collapses without good governance. Barr. Alli’s philosophy is built on 3 values:

Unity: The biggest lesson of 2019 and 2023 is that a divided APC cannot win Oyo. “Oyo Ahead” demands that all leaders and aspirants put party and state above personal ambition. Barr. Alli has consistently preached reconciliation. His Omoluabi background makes him a natural bridge-builder between old and new, between Ibadan and the zones.

Accountability: Good governance requires transparency. His legislative office publishes quarterly constituency reports. As governor, the expectation is a government that explains budget priorities to the people, audits projects, and welcomes feedback. Citizens must see where every Naira goes.

*Empathy:* Governance is about people. Barr. Alli is known for his accessibility. Market women, artisans, students, and traditional rulers can attest to his open-door approach. “Oyo Ahead” means policies designed with the pain of the common man in mind. Subsidies for farmers, support for small traders, and welfare for pensioners are not afterthoughts. They are the main thought.

Conclusion: The Time is Now

Oyo State has the land, the people, and the history to lead the Southwest. What it needs now is leadership with experience at the very top and a clear development compass, tested capacity and a clear developmental compass. Barr. Sharafadeen Alli offers that combination. That range of experience is rare. His antecedents prove he can manage complex systems. His vision proves he understands what Oyo needs to get ahead. His politics proves he values unity over division.

The road to 2027 will demand sacrifice, strategy, and sincerity from all APC stakeholders. If the party unites behind a candidate with tested antecedents, experience, empathy, and a real development plan, Oyo will be ahead again. Ahead in infrastructure. Ahead in education. Ahead in security. Ahead in prosperity.

Oyo deserves better. Oyo can be better. With Barr. Sharafadeen Alli, *Oyo will be ahead.

Comrade Adebayo Taofik Aderogba, mni: A Unionist in the Food, Beverage & Tobacco Sector, A Logistics/Supply Chain Expert, Public/Policy Research analyst, an Advocate for Good Governance and APC chieftain. He writes from Ward 12, Agbowo, U.I. Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Oyo state, Nigeria.