Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said Osun State should be experiencing greater development, arguing that substantial financial resources are currently accruing to state governments from the Federal Government.
Akpabio made the remarks in Osogbo during an All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally ahead of the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026. He was representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the political gathering, where APC leaders rallied support for the party’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
According to Akpabio, the level of federal allocations available to states should provide governments with sufficient resources to undertake meaningful development projects and improve living conditions for residents.
He expressed concern about the condition of infrastructure in parts of Osun State, particularly the road connecting Ibadan and Osogbo. He noted that the condition of the road was inconsistent with the level of resources available to governments and argued that residents deserved to see tangible improvements in infrastructure.
Akpabio urged the APC candidate, if elected, to prioritise infrastructure development and ensure that public resources are deployed effectively for the benefit of residents.
He also emphasised the importance of accountability in the management of state resources, stressing that government funds should translate into visible projects and improved public services rather than remain largely reflected in political promises.
The Senate President’s comments came as the APC intensified its final campaign activities ahead of Saturday’s governorship election. The party has presented Oyebamiji as a candidate capable of working closely with the Federal Government to attract additional investment and development projects to Osun State.
President Tinubu, whose message was delivered at the rally, similarly urged the APC candidate to embark on an aggressive infrastructure development programme if elected. He said increased financial resources available to state governments should result in better infrastructure and improved living conditions for citizens.
Tinubu also urged Oyebamiji to demonstrate that development could be a central component of governance and to ensure that Osun’s resources are directed towards projects that directly benefit the people.
The President further assured residents that the Federal Government had made arrangements to support a peaceful electoral process, while calling on political actors and voters to avoid violence, intimidation and harassment before, during and after the election.
The APC campaign has focused heavily on infrastructure, economic development and closer cooperation between Osun State and the Federal Government. Party leaders have argued that an APC administration in the state would be better positioned to attract federal interventions and investments.
Oyebamiji, in response, has promised to provide inclusive governance and promote development across the state if elected. He has also pledged to work with relevant federal institutions to accelerate infrastructure and economic development.
Akpabio’s remarks have therefore placed financial management and the utilisation of public resources at the centre of the APC’s message to Osun voters.
With the governorship election approaching, the debate is increasingly focused on how the state’s available resources should be converted into roads, infrastructure, economic opportunities, social services and other tangible benefits for residents.
The election is expected to determine whether voters will retain the current administration or choose a new direction under the APC candidate and other contenders participating in the poll.
For Akpabio and the APC leadership, the central argument is that Osun has access to sufficient public resources and that the priority should be ensuring those resources produce measurable improvements in the lives of its citizens.