The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the August 15 Osun State governorship election, Bola Oyebamiji, has pledged to improve the welfare of residents and invest in critical sectors of the state’s development.

Oyebamiji also promised to tackle hunger and poverty while prioritising investment in agriculture, education and healthcare.

The APC candidate made the promises on Tuesday during a town hall meeting organised by Arise TV for candidates contesting the election.

Speaking on his plans for the state, Oyebamiji said his experience in public service had equipped him with the knowledge required to govern Osun.

He said, “My journey and my destiny, which I have a pact with, took me to Osun as the incoming governor of Osun State. Governance is about people and not about segments; it’s not about an area, a city; it’s the entire people of Osun that I want to serve.

“You have seen that the welfare of our people in Osun is very paramount; security is very important; these are the things that I want to bring up, and we want to banish hunger and poverty, and I want to invest seriously in agriculture, education and health.

“Apart from that, our human asset is very important to us. We are going to look at their welfare; capital development is very important, and these are the things that I’m bringing on board.”

Oyebamiji, who hails from Ikire, previously served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Osun State Investment Company for two years.

He also served as Commissioner for Finance under former governors Rauf Aregbesola and Gboyega Oyetola.

Meanwhile, the Director of Voter Education and Publicity at the Independent National Electoral Commission, Victoria Eta-Messi, said the commission, in collaboration with security agencies, had intensified measures to protect voters at polling units across the state ahead of Saturday’s election.

She disclosed that potential flashpoints had been identified as part of efforts to ensure a peaceful poll.

Similarly, sensitive election materials have arrived in Osogbo, while no fewer than 25,310 personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have been deployed across the state for the election.