2027: Yayi Unveils ITESIWAJU Agenda, Calls for Continuity in Ogun Development

ABEOKUTA — The Ogun State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Adeola Olamilekan Yayi, has unveiled his nine-pillar development agenda, tagged “ITESIWAJU for Ogun State,” with a call for continuity in governance and development policies.

Yayi unveiled the agenda on Monday while addressing members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Ogun State, where he also called on political parties and governorship candidates to make the 2027 election campaign issue-based.

The APC candidate, who currently represents Ogun West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, said Ogun State could achieve greater economic and infrastructural development if successive administrations built on viable projects and policies initiated by their predecessors.

He cited Lagos State as an example, arguing that the continuity of governance and development policies across successive administrations since the return to democratic rule in 1999 had contributed to the state’s development.

According to him, projects should be assessed based on their value and benefits to the people rather than the administration that initiated them.

Yayi said, if elected governor, his administration would continue viable projects inherited from the present government rather than abandoning them because they were initiated by a previous administration.

He also urged other governorship candidates to clearly present their programmes to the electorate, particularly in the areas of youth development, women empowerment, industrialisation, agriculture, infrastructure, security, job creation and economic growth.

«“If Lagos could achieve what it has achieved through seamless transition of government from one administration to another, we can begin to imagine the multiplier effects that continuity can bring to the economy and development of Ogun.»

«“People must be able to know what your plans are for the youth, the economy, women, industrialisation, infrastructure, contractors and agriculture. Where are you taking us to? People should judge us on those issues,” he said.»

Yayi Unveils Nine-Pillar Agenda

Unveiling the ITESIWAJU agenda, Yayi said the framework was developed following extensive consultations across Ogun State and was designed to address the needs of residents across various sectors.

The acronym ITESIWAJU represents:

– I — Infrastructure
– T — Tourism and Culture
– E — Economic Empowerment
– S — Security and Welfare
– I — Inclusive Growth and Well-being
– W — Women, Youth and Poverty Eradication
– A — Agriculture and Food Security
– J — Job Creation and Industrialisation
– U — Urbanisation and Transparency

Yayi said the agenda was not merely a political document designed to secure electoral victory but a development framework intended to provide solutions to the state’s challenges.

“This is not a document put together for the sake of putting a document together. It is not a document put together for the sake of grabbing power.

“I put this document together with all sense of purpose. A document that took me three years to put together. It is a document meticulously crafted to attend to every need of everyone of this state,” he said.

He added that thousands of residents were consulted during the preparation of the agenda.

The APC candidate further said Ogun had the economic and human resources required to become a model of development, stressing that his aspiration was driven by his desire to contribute to the progress of the state.

Yayi Dismisses Ancestral Controversy

Yayi also addressed the controversy surrounding his ancestral roots, describing it as political manoeuvring by opponents seeking power.

He said the controversy would not distract him from his development plans for Ogun State.

«“My ancestral challenge is mere politics and desperation for power. I have a vision and believe in the development of this state, so I refuse to be bothered. I refuse to be blackmailed. Under my government, you must be eminently qualified to earn a position,” he said.»

IPAC Urges Issue-Based Campaign

Earlier, the Ogun State Chairman of IPAC, Comrade Abayomi Sanyaolu, commended Yayi for what he described as his contributions across the three senatorial districts of the state.

Sanyaolu urged all governorship candidates and political parties to avoid inflammatory language, vulgarity and personal attacks during the 2027 electioneering campaign.

He called on the candidates to present their manifestos and development programmes to the electorate, allowing voters to assess the competing policies and proposals on their merits.