The Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Mogaji Agboola Abiodun Olusegun, has said his decision to contest the 2027 governorship election was informed by what he described as a “divine call” and the need for fresh ideas and purposeful leadership in the state.
Agboola stated this while speaking with journalists at the SDP Secretariat in the Bodija area of Ibadan, shortly after he was formally introduced to party leaders, members and the public as the party’s governorship candidate.
He said although he had not traditionally been a politician, he had supported, assisted and promoted politicians over the years, but the prevailing situation in the country had made it necessary for people with genuine commitment to public service to become directly involved in governance.
According to him, his aspiration was also driven by the desire to give back to the community that raised and supported him.
“This is the time for us to also give back to the community that raised us, to the people that noticed us, promoted us and gave us life,” he said.
The SDP candidate said he intended to approach governance differently by moving away from what he described as “pedestrian thinking” towards the development of sustainable systems that would benefit future generations.
Agboola identified education as one of the areas requiring fundamental reform, particularly in view of the rapid development of artificial intelligence and its impact on industries and employment.
He questioned the relevance of continuing to educate children for jobs that may disappear as technology evolves, stressing the need to redesign the education system to prepare young people for the future.
“What kind of jobs should we be training these children for? What kind of education should we be giving them?” he asked.
He said his administration would prioritise system-building rather than focusing primarily on short-term projects.
“Pedestrian thinking is just painting primary healthcare centres. Pedestrian thinking is launching a bridge. We should move into system thinking. How do we create a system that lasts us? How do we create a system that our children’s children will be proud of when they get there?” he said.
Agboola also advocated a change in Nigeria’s political culture, rejecting what he described as the politics of patronage, imposition and “stomach infrastructure.”
He called for a political system where competent Nigerians with genuine passion and interest in public service could come forward and seek the people’s mandate.
The candidate further described the SDP as the home of progressive politics, noting its historical significance and connection with the democratic struggle surrounding June 12.
Speaking on the party’s preparedness for the 2027 election, Agboola said the SDP was ready to challenge the established political structure in Oyo State.
He expressed confidence in the party’s grassroots structure, noting that local government chairmen, women leaders and youth leaders were already prepared to mobilise support across the state.
Also speaking, the SDP Oyo State Chairman, Michael Okunlade, said the meeting was organised to formally introduce Agboola to party members and the public.
Okunlade said the party had commenced the necessary processes ahead of the 2027 election and would work with its structures across the state’s 33 local government areas to build a formidable campaign.
He expressed confidence that the SDP could wrest power from the ruling political establishment in Oyo State, describing the party as a credible alternative.
According to him, all local government areas were represented at the meeting, while the party’s chairmen, women and youth leaders were ready to commence grassroots mobilisation.
Okunlade stressed that the SDP was not a new or unfamiliar political platform but a party with a longstanding identity recognised across Nigeria.
He said the party was determined to work collectively to provide an alternative political platform for the people of Oyo State ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
