Oyo's Sikiru Titilola-Sodo Promises Local Government Autonomy

Sikiru Titilola-Sodo, the Governorship Candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in Oyo State, has committed to implementing Local Government autonomy if elected in the upcoming 2027 General Election. Speaking at a forum organized by the Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), he criticized state governors for interfering in Local Government administration, despite a Supreme Court ruling affirming financial autonomy for local governments.

Titilola-Sodo referenced Section 162 of the Constitution, advocating for local governments to have direct access to their statutory allocations to enhance service delivery and development. He also announced plans to establish at least one cottage industry in each of the 33 Local Government Areas to support agricultural processing and create rural jobs.

Additionally, he proposed a matching-grant scheme for farmer groups to establish processing facilities. Titilola-Sodo, who previously served as a Special Adviser on Labour Matters to Governor Seyi Makinde, pledged to rehabilitate dilapidated schools and ruled out stepping down for the Allied People’s Movement (APM) candidate, Bimbo Adekanmbi.