Olunloyo Says Late Father Inspired His Senatorial Ambition

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Oyo Central, Ayobami Olunloyo, has said his late father, former Oyo State Governor Dr Omololu Olunloyo, inspired his ambition to serve the public through politics.

Olunloyo made the disclosure during an interaction with journalists in Ibadan, explaining that his early exposure to his father’s political career helped him recognise the potential of public office to improve people’s lives.

He said he had been involved in politics for years, largely behind the scenes, but was now seeking an opportunity to apply his experience and preparation to address the needs of his constituency.

The candidate added that he had attended the School of Politics, Policy and Governance as part of his preparation for public service, saying the experience had strengthened his understanding of political leadership and governance.

However, he stressed that his family background alone would not be sufficient to justify his ambition, noting that he had a responsibility to respond to the needs of residents across Oyo Central Senatorial District.

Olunloyo identified employment, education, food security, healthcare, security and cultural heritage as the six pillars of his proposed development agenda.

On healthcare, he called for improved access to primary healthcare services, arguing that residents should be able to obtain basic medical attention within their communities without travelling long distances to major hospitals.

He also emphasised the need to improve education by expanding existing school facilities and increasing their capacity to accommodate more pupils, rather than focusing exclusively on constructing new institutions.

Describing education as essential to reducing poverty, he said access to quality learning opportunities should remain a priority for the district.

On security, Olunloyo advocated stronger intelligence gathering, effective law enforcement and improved community-level policing arrangements to address threats facing residents.

He also called for targeted flood prevention and drainage interventions, noting that the 11 local government areas within Oyo Central had different challenges requiring tailored solutions.

The candidate acknowledged that senators did not exercise the direct executive powers of governors but said they could influence development through legislation, budgetary scrutiny, oversight and collaboration with relevant government agencies.

If elected, he promised to make his representation accessible and accountable, including providing constituents with information on constituency projects, their funding and implementation.

He said residents should be able to assess his performance through a public register showing completed and proposed projects within six months of his election.

Olunloyo further maintained that constituency projects should address practical needs such as healthcare, education, water supply and other essential amenities, rather than serve as rewards for political allies.

Explaining his decision to contest on the PDP platform despite its internal challenges, he said he believed the party had a record of governance and could contribute to Nigeria’s development.

He said his immediate focus remained securing the opportunity to represent Oyo Central and demonstrate his commitment to public service.

Olunloyo is seeking to unseat the incumbent senator, who is pursuing re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He said his campaign would focus on engaging constituents and allowing voters to decide which approach to representation they preferred.

He urged residents to hold elected officials accountable by demanding transparency in public spending and assessing whether government projects delivered tangible benefits.

The candidate reiterated that his ambition was driven by a desire to address the district’s needs, adding that his performance in office, if elected, would ultimately determine how his representation was judged.