Former Chief of Staff to the Osun State Governor, Dr. Peter Babalola, has pledged to grant full autonomy to local government areas in the state if elected governor.
Babalola, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), announced his programme — “The Five-Point Redemption Agenda for Osun” — which focuses on education and human capital development, infrastructure renewal, youth empowerment, employment creation, and regional equity through inclusive governance.
In a statement released in Osogbo, Babalola described his agenda as a people-centered blueprint designed to restore hope, fairness, and prosperity across the state.
On local government reforms, he stated,
> “Councils will be empowered with autonomy, staff retrained, and rural projects prioritised — so that development begins where people live, not just in Osogbo.”
He also outlined plans to revamp public schools, establish modern vocational centres, and create scholarship schemes and teacher motivation programmes aimed at raising educational standards statewide.
Babalola’s infrastructure proposal includes the Osun Rural Roads Network (ORRN) — a phased project to link farms, towns, and markets, ensuring easier movement of goods and services.
> “If Osun truly desires progress anchored on fairness, experience, and people-first governance, then Peter Babalola represents the Redeemer, the New Hope, and the People’s Choice,” he declared.
Babalola, who served as Chief of Staff to former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola (2003–2010) and later as Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission under Rauf Aregbesola, is among 13 aspirants contesting for the APC governorship ticket ahead of the December 13 primary.
Other aspirants include Senator Iyiola Omisore, Bola Oyebamiji (MD, NIWA), Senator Babajide Omoworare, Dotun Babayemi, Benedict Alabi, Akin Ogunbiyi, and Kunle Adegoke (SAN), among others.
Meanwhile, the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, has been screened by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest for a second term.
