The Osun State Government has been urged by a prominent civil society coalition, The Osun Masterminds, to pivot away from endless political engagements and concentrate on delivering tangible governance to the populace. This demand was communicated on Saturday during the group's October 2026 State of the State address presented by its Executive Director, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, who stressed that the conclusion of the gubernatorial election cycle should usher in a period of socioeconomic transformation rather than perpetual campaigning.
What key developmental challenges did the organisation highlight?
During the briefing, Prof. Oyedokun-Alli outlined several pressing socioeconomic hurdles facing the state, pointing out that citizens expect dividends of democracy instead of continuous political friction. The coalition specifically drew attention to deteriorating school facilities, severe shortages of medical personnel and pharmaceutical supplies in primary healthcare centres, escalating youth joblessness, and administrative limitations placed on local government councils. Furthermore, the group charged the state administration with ensuring that public funds are judiciously channeled into impactful public projects, reaffirming its dedication to maintaining transparency and holding public officials accountable.
How are security concerns being addressed ahead of the holidays?
Expressing deep apprehension regarding rising insecurity along major travel corridors—such as the Kabba-Lokoja-Abuja highway—as the Christmas and New Year festivities draw closer, the organisation called for proactive security interventions. Travelers and commercial drivers have voiced fears over criminal elements staging abductions and demanding exorbitant ransoms. In response, the coalition urged the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, and community security networks to deploy intelligence-driven, collaborative operations along high-risk routes to guarantee the safety of holidaymakers.
What was the reaction to political violence and infrastructural decay?
The civil society group also strongly condemned the reported assault on African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore in Ado-Ekiti on October 30, 2026, terming it a direct threat to democratic freedoms and demanding the immediate prosecution of the culprits by relevant law enforcement authorities. On the domestic front, the coalition criticized the deplorable state of township roads in Osogbo, specifically naming the Dele- Yes-Sir/Oke-Fia axis, the Olaiya/Ogo-Oluwa corridor, and the MDS/Oja-Oba/Ilesa Garage network. Citing severe potholes, failed asphalt, and drainage erosion that hamper commercial activities, the group advocated for a state of emergency on Osogbo roads. Additionally, it appealed to the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently rehabilitate decaying federal arteries, including the Ekiti-Kogi-Lokoja-Abuja and Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Egbe corridors, to curb accidents and economic losses. Looking toward the 2027 general elections, the organization tasked political actors, traditional rulers, and religious leaders with fostering peace, tolerance, and intellectual engagement.