Bimbo Adekanmbi, the Allied People’s Movement’s candidate for governor of Oyo State, has revealed that he is also a victim of the ongoing Ibadan Circular Road project.
However, he stated that if he were elected governor in 2027, he would see to it that the project was finished and that it was essential to the area’s development.
Adekanmbi revealed this to reporters on Thursday at the Thames Hotel in Jericho, in the state’s Ibadan Northwest Local Government Area.
Speaking about his loss, Adekanmbi stated that no sacrifice was too great for the advancement of the state and that he owned a piece of land in the Ona-Ara area that was impacted by the road construction.
According to reports, the demolition, which started in the Fashade community along the Circular Road in 2024, damaged a number of villages and communities in the state’s local government areas of Akinyele, Ido, Ona-Ara, Egbeda, Oluyole, and Lagelu and sparked objections from locals.
As part of the continuing Circular Road project, the state government started demolishing a number of buildings in March 2024.
However, Adekanmbi claimed the project was essential to the state’s growth and promised to carry it out if elected governor.
“Circular Road is a smart idea. I am a victim as well. My land in Ona-Ara has been impacted. In order for a civilization to succeed, access must be made available.
“Once I’m elected governor, I’ll carry on building the Circular Road and address any problems.” For the advancement of our state, we must make sacrifices,” he stated.
Adekanmbi claimed he was not Governor Seyi Makinde’s puppet while listing his accomplishments as Commissioner for Finance and Deputy Chief of Staff.
“Governor Makinde is not interested in being a godfather. He is among the most cerebral and intelligent people I have ever encountered.
But I am not a stooge of Governor Makinde. “I should be held responsible for my own choices,” he said.
The former commissioner stated that the Makinde administration had lifted the standard in the state and that consistency was essential to the state’s progress.
“We cannot return to Egypt because Governor Makinde has raised the bar in Oyo.” The APM candidate for governor stated, “As I have been saying, Governor Makinde built the bridge; Bimbo Adekanmbi will take us over the bridge.”
Adekanmbi also voiced support for local government autonomy, claiming that despite Nigeria’s legal local government autonomy, it was not being completely implemented.
“The problem is not autonomy. Numerous aspects need to be taken into consideration. There are a lot of things we can implement, so when the time comes, we will talk about autonomy as I understand it,” he stated.
Adekanmbi pledged to release his manifesto shortly, stating that it would include quantifiable goals for his first 100 days, six months and one year in office.
