…pledges to construct Moniya-Saki rail line
Oyo State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Olooye Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke, has described himself as the “beautiful bride” in the 2027 governorship contest, saying his candidacy is not tied to any political godfather.
Adegoke stated this while contrasting his candidacy with those of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Action Peoples Movement (APM) candidates in Oyo, as he outlined some of his plans for the state if elected governor.
His words; “Out of the three popular candidates of the three major parties, the APM, APC and ADC, I’m the beautiful bride, not tainted with no God Father but God Almighty is my father.”
He also pledged to construct a 100-kilometre standard single-gauge railway linking Moniya in Ibadan to Saki in Oke-Ogun, saying the project would ease the movement of agricultural produce from the food-producing region to Ibadan and other parts of the South-West.
The ADC candidate made the remarks on Wednesday while featuring on the Arise News Morning Show in Lagos.
According to a statement by his campaign media team, the proposed railway would be executed in three phases: Moniya to Iseyin, Iseyin to Okeho and Okeho to Saki.
Adegoke said a standard single-gauge railway would be more economically viable for the route, putting the estimated cost at about $3 million per kilometre, compared with between $6 million and $6.9 million per kilometre for a double-gauge line.
He said development partners and relevant agencies could be involved in funding the project, stressing that the entire financial burden would not necessarily fall on the state government.
“I am going to build a Standard Single Gauge Rail Line at circa US$3M per Kilometer. For economic viability and feasibility, we don’t need a Standard Double Gauge Rail Line, which costs circa US$6M to US$6.9M per Kilometer.
“It will be in three phases of: Moniya to Iseyin; Iseyin to Okeho; and Okeho to Saki. Projects like these attract Development Partners and Agencies. So, the entire burden will not be on the Oyo State Government alone. Similar thing is being done with the ongoing Muritala Mohammed International Airport Reconstruction in Lagos,” he said.
Adegoke said the rail project would be a priority of his administration because of the need to improve the transportation of farm produce from Oke-Ogun to major markets.
He said his proposed administration would also support farmers across the state, adding that his background in Agricultural Economics would influence his approach to agricultural development.
Adegoke, who said he studied Agricultural Economics at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, before becoming a chartered accountant, said agriculture would form a major part of his administration’s economic agenda.
On his development blueprint, the ADC candidate said his “Solutions 2027” agenda would focus on security of lives and property, agricultural development, job creation, urban renewal, healthcare and education, industrial and infrastructure development, teacher training, technology deployment and socio-economic development.
He also promised to introduce a local-content policy in government contracts, under which qualified contractors from Oyo State would be given priority.
