2027: SDP Guber candidate, Agboola vows to replace ‘pedestrian thinking’ with system-based governance

The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State, Segun Agboola, has said his decision to contest the 2027 election was driven by a desire to introduce fresh ideas and build enduring systems of governance in the state.

Agboola stated this at a stakeholders’ meeting held with party leaders and members across the state, including local government executives, state executive members and party candidates.

He said his entry into politics was motivated by what he described as a “divine call” to give back to the society that raised and supported him.

“Traditionally, I’m not a politician. I’ve supported politicians, assisted politicians, promoted politicians. But the state we are in and the country right now calls for a fresh idea, calls for a fresh look at things and calls for well-intentioned people who believe that they have a social contract,” he said.

According to him, the social contract was for responsible citizens to serve as “the anchor between the past and the future,” stressing that people should stop complaining about the state of the country and become part of the solution.

Agboola said his administration, if elected, would rethink the state’s approach to education, particularly in view of rapid technological changes and the growing impact of artificial intelligence on employment.

He said: “We all know that this is the age of artificial intelligence, where people are afraid of jobs being lost because the whole world is rethinking how they are doing business.

“I believe this is also the time for the kind of leadership that thinks about how we lead our people and what we provide for our people.”

The SDP candidate said his manifesto would prioritise a review of the education system to prepare young people for a future that was changing rapidly.

“The children of today have been educated for a future that doesn’t exist, or rather, a future that is constantly changing and evolving at an alarming speed,” he said.

Agboola also called for a shift from what he described as “pedestrian thinking” to system-based governance capable of producing lasting development.

He said, “Pedestrian thinking is just tiring roads. Pedestrian thinking is just painting primary healthcare centres. Pedestrian thinking is launching a bridge.

“We should move into system thinking. How do we create a system that outlasts us? How do we create a system that our children’s children will be proud of when they get there?”

He said developed societies had been able to sustain their institutions because previous generations established systems that continued to function long after their founders had gone.

According to him, Nigeria must begin to build institutions and systems that would remain functional for generations.

On the readiness of the SDP for the 2027 election, Agboola said the party was prepared to mobilise across the state, noting that the stakeholders’ meeting had demonstrated the commitment of party leaders at the grassroots.

“That’s how prepared and ready SDP is. SDP is here to stay. It’s the oldest party. It’s not the kind of party that has changed names like most of the other parties. The name remains the same,” he said.

He also advocated a departure from politics based on patronage and imposition of candidates, urging Nigerians to support leaders based on competence, experience and accountability.

“Are we still going to be doing the politics of stomach infrastructure? Or are we going to be putting real structures in place?” he asked.

“Are we going to be researching and headhunting people who have been around the world, who have had all the great education that they possibly can, to be our leaders that we can hold accountable?”

Earlier, the Oyo State Chairman of the SDP, Okunlade Michael, said the stakeholders’ meeting was organised to formally introduce Agboola to party members and the public ahead of the 2027 election.

Michael said the party was working to reposition itself as a credible alternative in the state.

He said, “The purpose is to introduce our aspirant, who is intended to contest for governorship, to the members of the party and to the public.”

He added that all local government areas were represented at the meeting and that the party would soon commence grassroots mobilisation.

“Very soon, we are going to work together with all the local governments to ensure that we wrest power from the ruling APM,” Michael said.

He described the SDP as a recognised political platform with an established identity across the state.

“SDP is the credible alternative that is on ground now. SDP is not like a new party. It is a logo that is known to even our grandmothers, our mothers and our fathers across the local governments,” he said.

The chairman expressed confidence that the party would strengthen its structures across the 33 local government areas as preparations for the 2027 governorship election gather momentum.