Alhaji Ademola Wasiu Alli (AWA), a seasoned chartered accountant and philanthropist, has thrown his hat into the ring for Oyo Central Senatorial District, pledging to deliver transformative leadership and bridge the district’s developmental gaps. With 33 years of public sector experience, including senior roles at the Ministry of Defence, Alli believes his expertise and grassroots connections make him the ideal candidate to drive progress.
Alli gave this assurance during a courtesy visit to the Chairman and Executive members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, at the NUJ Millennium Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
The Fiditi-born chartered accountant and philanthropist stated that the senatorial district requires purposeful leadership capable of addressing its developmental challenges.
He emphasised that his wealth of experience in grassroots representation and progressive politics uniquely positioned him to drive meaningful transformation across the district.
According to him, these experiences would significantly influence his approach to governance and ensure that communities under the senatorial district enjoy improved living standards.
Alli further highlighted his 33 years of meritorious service in the public sector, where he rose from the position of Auditor to Director of Finance at the Ministry of Defence, Abuja, where he retired.
He noted that his career exposed him to high-level financial management responsibilities, all of which he handled without blemish.
The senatorial hopeful explained that his exposure at the federal level has equipped him with the necessary connections and expertise to attract government interventions and welfare programmes to Oyo Central.
He lamented that many communities in the district are yet to benefit adequately from existing federal initiatives due to a lack of proper representation.
Alli stressed that his aspiration was driven by a strong desire to bridge this gap and ensure equitable distribution of government resources.
Speaking on his humanitarian efforts, he pointed out that his AWA Foundation has been actively involved in delivering healthcare services and educational support to indigent members of the society.
He cited an instance where a beneficiary of the foundation emerged as the best graduating law student at the Nigerian Law School, Abuja.
“Oyo Central Senatorial District is battling with underdevelopment. I will bring the dividends of democracy to my constituency. There are numerous federal welfare and intervention programmes our people are unaware of, and I will ensure they benefit from them,” he said.
Alli also appealed to journalists in the state to support his aspiration by projecting his vision and informing the public about his capabilities.
He described the media as critical stakeholders in shaping public opinion and deepening democratic values.
The senatorial hopeful urged journalists to remain committed to truth and professionalism, while cautioning against the spread of fake news and propaganda.
He noted that the growing influence of social media poses significant challenges that must be addressed to prevent misinformation.
In his response, the Chairman of the NUJ, Oyo State Council, Mr. Akeem Abas, commended Alli for his philanthropic initiatives and contributions to societal development.
Abas assured that journalists in the state would continue to uphold professionalism and ethical standards in the discharge of their duties.
He disclosed that over 300 journalists have been trained on modern trends in journalism within the first 100 days of his administration.
The NUJ chairman added that the era of using journalists as tools for blackmail and propaganda is over, emphasizing a renewed focus on solution-driven journalism.
He reiterated the commitment of the union to continuous capacity building, noting that regular training programmes would remain a priority to enhance effective and balanced reportage.
Abas maintained that well-trained journalists are essential to promoting national development through accurate, fair and development-oriented reporting.
