2027: Osun Masterminds demand governance, higher roads, safety forward of basic elections

An Osun-based civil society organisation, The Osun Masterminds, TOM, has known as on the State Government to shift its consideration from political actions to efficient governance, urging the administration to prioritise infrastructure, employment, healthcare and grassroots growth.

The organisation made the decision in its October 2026 State of the State tackle delivered by its Executive Director, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, on Saturday.

Oyedokun-Alli mentioned the gubernatorial election cycle had ended, stressing that residents ought to start to expertise the advantages of governance fairly than continued political campaigns and partisan disagreements.

“The people of Osun did not vote for perpetual politicking; they voted for development, employment, security, and infrastructural transformation,” it acknowledged.

The group recognized insufficient college infrastructure, shortages of medicine and personnel in main healthcare centres, rising youth unemployment and restrictions on native authorities administration as main challenges requiring pressing consideration.

It urged the state authorities to make sure that public funds had been directed in the direction of initiatives with measurable advantages, including that it could proceed to demand accountability and transparency within the administration of public sources.

On safety, the organisation expressed concern over reported instances of kidnapping alongside main interstate routes because the Christmas and New Year celebrations strategy, significantly the Kabba-Lokoja-Abuja freeway.

“Travellers and transport operators had raised concerns about armed criminal groups allegedly abducting passengers and demanding ransoms. The situation could undermine the safety of people travelling for the yuletide festivities.

“We name on the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigerian Army and native safety buildings to ascertain coordinated, intelligence-led operations alongside recognized high-risk routes.

“Security agencies must ensure visible and sustained patrols before the peak travel period,” it mentioned.

The organisation additionally condemned the alleged assault on the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, in Ado-Ekiti on October 30, 2026, describing the incident as an assault on democratic participation and freedom of expression.

It known as on the Inspector-General of Police, DSS and different related businesses to research the incident, determine these accountable and guarantee their prosecution. “Perpetrators of the October 30 attack in Ekiti must be fished out and brought to open justice immediately,” it mentioned.

On infrastructure, the group criticised the situation of a number of inside roads in Osogbo, figuring out the Dele-Yes-Sir/Oke-Fia axis, Olaiya/Ogo-Oluwa hall and MDS/Oja-Oba/Ilesa Garage community as areas requiring pressing rehabilitation.

It mentioned the deteriorating roads had elevated the difficulties confronted by motorists, commuters and enterprise homeowners, citing potholes, failed asphalt, drainage issues and erosion. The organisation urged the state authorities to declare a state of emergency on township roads in Osogbo and implement complete rehabilitation initiatives.

The group additionally raised considerations over the situation of federal highways linking the South-West with different components of the nation, significantly the Ekiti-Kogi-Lokoja-Abuja freeway and Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Egbe corridors.

According to the organisation, the affected routes had grow to be more and more tough for motorists and business transport operators, with broken highway sections contributing to accidents, site visitors disruptions and financial losses. It known as on the Federal Ministry of Works and related businesses to intervene urgently.

Looking forward to the 2027 basic elections, the Osun Masterminds urged political events and their supporters to embrace peaceable campaigns, tolerance and respect for the rule of regulation, warning towards political violence and intimidation of opposition figures.

It additionally appealed to conventional rulers, non secular leaders, youth organisations, civil society teams, political actors and safety businesses to advertise nationwide unity, transparency and peaceable political participation.

“Let us build a culture of robust intellectual debate rather than physical violence,” the organisation mentioned, reiterating its dedication to holding public officeholders accountable.