The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo State, Olooye Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke, FCA, has declared that he will not withdraw from the 2027 governorship race for any aspirant, insisting that he is the best candidate to lead the state.
Adegoke made the declaration while speaking on Fresh FM 105.9’s Political Circuit programme in Ibadan on Saturday, dismissing speculations that he could step down for another candidate.
He, however, expressed his readiness to collaborate with other political stakeholders in the interest of the state.
“If you listened to my interview on the BBC, I said it. I am ready to welcome people to work with me, but I am not stepping down for anybody. Adegboyega Adegoke is not stepping down for anybody,” he declared.
During the interview, the ADC candidate unveiled his nine-point development agenda, tagged SOLUTIONS, which focuses on security, organic agriculture, livelihood and job creation, urban renewal, healthcare and education, industrialisation and infrastructure, teachers’ welfare, technology, and socio-economic development.
As part of his infrastructure plans, Adegoke promised to rehabilitate 330 inner roads across the state within his first 100 days in office if elected governor.
On industrial development, he disclosed that he had identified 64 moribund industries in the state for possible revival, noting that revitalising them would boost economic activities and create employment opportunities.
He also outlined plans to facilitate gas supply to Ibadan through NIPCO, maximise the economic benefits of the Federal Government’s dry port project around Moniya/Ijaye, and establish a 5,000-hectare cocoa project in Oluyole Local Government Area.
Addressing the issue of local government autonomy, Adegoke promised to ensure transparency in council budgets and strengthen accountability, arguing that local government chairmen should have the financial capacity to execute projects that directly improve the lives of people at the grassroots.
The governorship hopeful also proposed monthly stipends for residents aged 75 and above, explaining that the initiative could be financed through reductions in wasteful government spending.
He estimated that the elderly beneficiaries would constitute about one per cent of the state’s population.
Highlighting his professional credentials, Adegoke cited his experience at Deloitte and Schlumberger, as well as what he described as 35 years of managing industrial relations involving the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
He maintained that his experience in the private sector and industrial relations had equipped him with the managerial skills required to run the affairs of the state.
The ADC candidate also highlighted his philanthropic interventions in education and agriculture, including a ₦20 million contribution towards the rehabilitation of an agricultural farm at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
He further disclosed that he had provided scholarships to outstanding students of agriculture and physics at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).
Adegoke promised to expand access to educational opportunities and promote agricultural development as part of his administration’s priorities.
He added that his campaign would be driven by issues, policy alternatives and practical solutions to the challenges confronting Oyo State, rather than personal attacks on political opponents.
