2027: Makinde Has Done Very Little on Youth Empowerment, Job Creation — Gbolarumi

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Barrister Gbolarumi Hazeem, has criticised the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde over what he described as poor performance in youth empowerment, job creation and other areas of governance.

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Gbolarumi made this known during a media chat with newsmen on Sunday, saying the state government had failed to adequately address unemployment and provide opportunities for young people to put their skills to productive use.

“Seyi has done nothing about economic empowerment, which is one of our five-point agenda. Many youths are jobless, they have graduated, what are we doing about that? Our youths need to be empowered. Some of them have skills,” he said.

He said his administration, if elected, would focus on education, infrastructure, healthcare, justice, equity and sustainable economic development, rather than relying on temporary measures.

Gbolarumi also criticised the practice of sharing money and food items during election campaigns, saying such gestures did not amount to empowerment or development.

“It’s not about giving people money while campaigning. Why are you sharing money? You don’t need that. People are very wise now, they will collect your money and will not vote for you,” he said.

He further condemned what he described as campaigns centred on banter and personal attacks instead of issues affecting the people, urging politicians to present clear plans to address unemployment, infrastructure, education and other challenges facing the state.

The PDP candidate said political campaigns should be issue-based, adding that voters deserved to know how candidates intended to improve their lives rather than being distracted by exchanges and political rhetoric.

The governorship candidate also dismissed claims of continued factionalisation within the Oyo PDP, saying the party had now become united.

He also said being governor should not automatically make an individual the leader of the party, stressing the need to respect the party’s leadership and structure.

Also speaking, the PDP candidate for Oyo Central Senatorial District, Hon. Ayobami Olunloyo, identified legislation, constituency projects and investment attraction as three major areas that could drive economic and industrial development in the state.

Olunloyo said the state needed to make laws that would attract new businesses and protect existing ones, while also creating an environment that would encourage investors to establish businesses in Ibadan and other parts of Oyo State.

He said agriculture was another sector that required attention, particularly through communal storage solutions that could help farmers preserve their yields and ensure their products reached the market.

According to him, constituency projects should also be better directed towards education, including vocational education, to equip residents with practical skills needed in the economy.

“The ability is to attract investment, do things that will make businesses want to come in,” Olunloyo said, adding that the people of the state were strong and ready to work if given the necessary opportunities.

Also at the media chat were the PDP state chairman, Prof. Rahman Akinoso; Organising Secretary, Olaniyi Stephen; Auditor of the State Working Committee, Hon. Ajagbe Oladotun; Ibadan South East II representative, Taiwo Jimoh (Solution); Chairman of the Chairmen Forum, Hon. Abiola Jimoh; and Head of Media and Strategic Communications, Chesterfield Efe.