By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, in Ogun State for the 2027 general elections, Rotimi Babajide, has pledged to declare a state of emergency in the education sector if elected governor.

Babajide, a town planner, said the proposed intervention would be aimed at urgently reversing what he described as the decline and retrogression in the state’s education system, while restoring Ogun’s reputation for academic excellence.

Speaking at the weekend in Abeokuta, the state capital, the APM candidate also outlined plans to re-plan the state, manage population growth and expand infrastructure to meet the needs of present and future generations.

Babajide clarified that the proposed state of emergency in education would not involve the use of firearms, curfews or restrictions on movement, but would constitute a focused government intervention to address what he described as the deteriorating standard of education in the state.

He said Ogun had a long-standing reputation for academic excellence, citing the contributions of prominent Nigerians, including Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Tai Solarin, Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka and members of the Ransome-Kuti family, to the state’s educational heritage.

He said: “If elected, by the grace of God, come May 29, 2027, I am going to declare a state of emergency in education because the education that our forefathers brought to us, the likes of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Tai Solarin, Professor Wole Soyinka, Ransome-Kuti and so many others, is witnessing a serious decline and retrogression.

“I am going to declare a state of emergency. It is not by firearms; it is not by curfew; it is not by barricading the roads. It is a matter of urgency that requires urgent intervention because this is a shame on us as indigenes of Ogun State. Ogun State indigenes are scholars.”

Recalling the role of missionaries in establishing schools across the state, Babajide said the development had contributed to the emergence of generations of scholars and helped shape Ogun’s educational identity.

“We know that missionaries came and established schools, and before we knew it, our children were doing well in the education sector,” he said, expressing concern over what he described as the deterioration of educational standards.

He added: “We cannot open our eyes and begin to see what is playing out in our education today. It is going to stop. We are going to declare a state of emergency.” Babajide said restoring educational standards would be a major priority of his administration if elected.

The APM candidate also said Ogun required the expertise of professional town planners to properly manage its population growth and harness its geographical and economic advantages.

He said his professional training had equipped him to plan for present and future generations through deliberate development of infrastructure, housing, transportation and other public amenities.

Describing his governorship ambition as a divine mandate, Babajide said his campaign would focus on building a people-centred and inclusive Ogun State. He said his administration would seek to “reset” and re-plan the state through the development of a comprehensive master plan to guide its physical and economic expansion.

“As a planner by profession, what we do is look into master plans, look into posterity and see what we want to work on and deliver to our people,” he said, adding that his intention was to build on the achievements of previous administrations.

“I acknowledge the efforts of past and present administrations, including those of Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Otunba Gbenga Daniel. My intention is not to run down previous governments but to build on what has been achieved and introduce planning expertise into Ogun State’s development process,” he said.

Babajide noted that Ogun shares boundaries with Lagos, Oyo, Osun and Ondo states, as well as the Republic of Benin, saying its location and landmass placed it in a strategic position to accommodate part of the population and economic pressure from Lagos.

He said the state must prepare for increased migration by providing adequate residential areas, commercial centres, transportation networks and other infrastructure.

He also proposed a rural-urban development model under which economic activities would be taken closer to rural communities through the establishment of market hubs where farmers could sell their produce, thereby reducing the pressure associated with transporting agricultural products to urban centres.

“We are going to bring about development even into the rural areas,” he said, stressing the need for improved rural roads and transportation infrastructure.

The APM candidate further identified agriculture and food security as key areas of his proposed administration, citing cassava production as an example of how Ogun could expand its agricultural value chain.

He said greater attention to food production, processing and other downstream activities would, under his proposal, create jobs, strengthen rural economies and contribute to food security.