By Hon. Olumide Oduola (ALAYAKI ONA-ARA)
As Oyo State inches closer to the 2027 general elections, a critical question looms large: Where do we go from here? The answer to that question will determine whether Oyo continues on the path of purposeful development or drifts into the dangerous waters of political experimentation.
We are at a crossroads, and the direction we choose will shape the destiny of generations to come.
Over the past seven years, Governor Seyi Makinde has redefined leadership in Oyo State. He has prioritized infrastructure, education, security, and economic expansion while maintaining a people-first approach. Oyo State is no longer just participating in national politics, it is now setting standards.
However, legacies are not self-sustaining. Without a capable and visionary successor, everything built since 2019 can be dismantled in the blink of an electoral cycle. That’s why the stakes in 2027 are incredibly high. We need a leader who will not only preserve this legacy but elevate it. That leader is Ambassador Taofeek Oladejo Arapaja.
Arapaja is not just a political figure; he is a statesman. With decades of experience in both executive and party leadership, he brings to the table a unique blend of grassroots credibility and high-level competence.
As a former deputy governor, a respected diplomat, and the current Deputy National Chairman (South) of the PDP, Arapaja understands the complexity of governance. He is not learning the ropes, he helped tie them.
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He is a stabilizing force, someone who knows how to govern, how to unite, and how to lead without drama. That level of maturity is what Oyo needs next.
Beyond Party Politics—This Is About Oyo’s Future
While Ambassador Arapaja is a proud member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), his leadership appeal cuts across party lines. He is respected by both allies and opponents for his integrity, humility, and results-driven approach.
2027 should not be reduced to a party affair. It should be a referendum on who can protect our progress and take us further. Arapaja’s deep understanding of Oyo’s political, cultural, and developmental landscape gives him an edge that is both strategic and practical. He is not coming in to guess. He is coming in to deliver.
Talk is cheap. Every election season, politicians promise youth inclusion, empowerment, and participation. But when the time comes, they disappear into elitist circles, leaving young people behind.
Arapaja is different. His track record shows consistent engagement with the youth—not just as supporters, but as partners. He mentors, empowers, and includes. He recognizes that a nation that ignores its youth has signed a death warrant on its own future. Under his leadership, young people in Oyo will not be used they will be useful.
The future is not guaranteed—it must be secured. And it will not be secured by trial-and-error leadership or political experiments driven by noise rather than nuance.
This is the time for consolidation, not contradiction. This is the time for wisdom, not wishful thinking. This is the time for Arapaja. He represents a continuity of values, not just a continuation of power. He brings calm to crisis, clarity to confusion, and competence to leadership.
Watch: 30 Massive Projects Transforming Oyo State under Gov. Makinde Administration
If Oyo is truly ready to defend its gains and chart a higher course, then the choice is clear. Ambassador Arapaja is the advantage we cannot afford to ignore.
About the Author:
Hon. Olumide Oduola (Alayaki Ona-Ara) is a youth advocate, political strategist, and grassroots mobilizer in Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State. He is a vocal member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a believer in leadership that delivers.
