By John Dike, Osogbo
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has said Osun State must begin to derive greater value from the rising federal allocations accruing to the state.
He stated this during the APC governorship campaign rally in Osun State, where he urged voters to support the party’s candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, in the August 15 governorship election.
Basiru said federal allocation had increased significantly since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, but argued that the development had not been adequately reflected in the quality of infrastructure and services delivered at the grassroots.
According to him, the total allocation shared among the three tiers of government stood at about N586 billion in April 2023, before Tinubu assumed office, but rose to N2.2 trillion in April 2026, N2.3 trillion in May and N2.7 trillion in June.
He questioned what he described as the absence of corresponding community infrastructure in Osun despite the increase in federal revenue.
Basiru said the state has 332 wards, with several communities within them, and argued that development projects should be based on the specific needs of each community.
“There is something called community infrastructure, and that is lacking in the present administration in Osun State. We have 332 wards, and out of the 332 wards we have several communities. So what are the infrastructures in these communities from the over N2 trillion?
“The first thing that the government of Bola Oyebamiji under our party is going to do is we are going to have community intervention infrastructure across the wards in Osun.
“We don’t need to give a community water if they don’t need it. There must be a needs assessment,” he said.
Basiru also criticised the state of public education in Osun, saying the sector was “moving backward” and warning against the neglect of government-owned schools.
The former senator recalled his educational background, saying he attended Salvation Army School in Osogbo and Laro Grammar School before eventually attaining a PhD in Law.
He asked what would become of children from ordinary homes if public schools were allowed to deteriorate.
“Presently, we have a deficit of about 28,000 teachers in Osun. Let’s imagine we employ about 10,000; that means 10,000 of our youths will be off the unemployment market,” Basiru said.
He also called for the rejuvenation of the state’s public service, which he described as ageing, arguing that the employment of young people would inject fresh energy into the system.
Basiru urged voters to demand value for money from government, saying the amount of federal allocation received by the state should be reflected in the projects executed for the people.
“Our public service is aged, and our youth who will energise the system, by God’s grace and through your support, our vote should be value for money. The allocation we are receiving must be in consideration with the projects, and the person that is capable is Bola Oyebamiji,” he said.
The APC national secretary further urged Osun voters to support the party in order to strengthen collaboration between the state and Federal Government.
He said such collaboration would facilitate development in the state, particularly because the APC controls the Federal Government.
“President Tinubu is working and what will make us feel more effective in the state is having robust collaboration with the Federal Government, not that we’ll be following a party that is not at the Federal Level, partially at the state level, and not at the local level, that will bring robust development for us in Osun State,” Basiru said.
He therefore called on the electorate to vote for the APC on August 15, saying the party’s victory would lead to improved development in the health and education sectors, among others.
“That’s why we should vote for the APC, the President’s party, on the 15th of August 2026. This vote will bring about development in our health sector, education, and among others,” he said.
Also speaking, the APC governorship candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, assured the electorate that his administration would deliver good governance across towns and communities in Osun State without discrimination.
Oyebamiji said his administration would pursue balanced development and would not place road construction above other critical sectors of the economy.
He said education, healthcare delivery, agricultural development and the micro-economy would receive adequate attention under his administration.
“I am assuring the electorate that if you elect me as your Governor, we will deliver good governance across towns and communities in the state without bias.
“Like our party scribe rightly said, we won’t prioritise road over education, healthcare delivery, agriculture development and micro-economy.
“We will ensure all-round development and improve the business atmosphere of the state for indigenes and residents irrespective of your affiliation,” Oyebamiji said.
The APC campaign train later moved to Erin, Ilobu and Osogbo as the party intensified its mobilisation ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election.
