A leader of the Ilana Mekunu movement, Akeem Salawu, has extended New Year greetings to the people of Oyo State, urging renewed commitment to unity, responsible leadership and genuine development for the benefit of ordinary citizens.
In his New Year message, Salawu expressed gratitude to sons and daughters of the state for their continued belief in a better future, despite the challenges of the past year. He noted that the experiences of the outgoing year underscored the resilience, strength and unwavering spirit of Oyo people in their pursuit of justice, fairness and inclusive development.
Salawu emphasised the need for a more courageous and people-focused opposition in the state, arguing that Oyo deserves an alternative that is strategic, united and bold in its engagement. He observed that the state has long rotated between familiar political structures without significant improvement in the living conditions of the common man.
According to him, genuine love for Oyo State requires opposition forces to rise above ego, rivalry and personal interests in order to challenge both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) with ideas, integrity and collective strength.
He called for a shift from rivalry to alignment, from silent compromise to bold advocacy, and from political symbolism to true representation, warning that the future of the state is at stake and that history would remember those who stood up at critical moments.
Salawu concluded by expressing optimism that the New Year would bring liberty, clearer vision, unity of purpose and prosperity to the people, declaring that Oyo State would “rise and shine” in the year ahead.
