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The Ogun State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oladipupo Adebutu, has vowed to take back the state in 2027.
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Adebutu declared that Ogun’s political and economic destiny must no longer be surrendered to what he described as “political mercenaries” and transient political actors
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The PDP candidate unveiled an agenda anchored on “ITURA”, meaning relief, promising socio-economic liberation, improved service delivery, infrastructure development, entrepreneurship, a stronger economy and liveable communities.
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Adebutu also promised to ensure prompt payment of pensioners’ entitlements and restore genuine financial autonomy to the 20 local government councils, saying empowered councils would create additional centres of development across the state.
September 09, (THEWILL) — The Ogun State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oladipupo Adebutu, has declared that the state has suffered 15 years of regression in governance and infrastructure, vowing to return the party to power in 2027 and rescue the state from what he described as maladministration and corruption.
Adebutu made the declaration on Wednesday at the official flag-off of his campaign and that of the party’s House of Assembly candidates at the Ake Pavilion, Abeokuta.
Addressing party supporters and other stakeholders at the event, Adebutu presented the 2027 election as a decisive opportunity for the people of Ogun State to reclaim what he described as people-centred governance and restore the state’s development trajectory.
He described the PDP as “the undisputed fortress of the masses”, insisting that the party remained committed to the welfare and prosperity of the people.
According to him, Ogun, with its rich history and contributions to Nigeria’s development, should not be left in the hands of political actors who have no enduring stake in the state.
“Ogun State is the hallowed land of historical titans. We shall never again surrender our sacred heritage to political mercenaries or transient tourists who are totally blind to our tears,” he said.
Adebutu, who stressed his longstanding ties to Ogun, said his roots, investments, and enterprises had been firmly established in the state for more than three decades.
“For over 31 unbroken years, my roots, my wealth, my enterprises, and my sweat have been irreversibly planted in the soil of Ogun State. I have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with you, creating jobs and fighting for our collective progress. My stake in our shared destiny is total, permanent, and absolute,” he said.
He pledged that an administration led by him would treat the delivery of tangible dividends of democracy as an obligation to the people rather than a political slogan.
“Delivering true, tangible dividends of democracy is not merely our political mission; it is our unbreakable covenant with the people of Ogun State,” he said.
The PDP candidate hinged his argument for the party’s return to power partly on its record in Ogun between 2003 and 2011, when the state was governed by Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
Adebutu described the period as a “golden epoch”, arguing that local governments were more functional and had greater room to drive development at the grassroots.
“History stands as our irrefutable witness under the PDP, human dignity, monumental infrastructural development, and the sacred welfare of the citizenry were unconditionally elevated above all else,” he said.
He urged voters to remember what he described as the prosperous years between 2003 and 2011, when, according to him, local governments “breathed with absolute vitality and functional autonomy”.
Adebutu said the PDP administration during the period implemented policies that stimulated wealth creation and strengthened the local economy, particularly at the grassroots.
He maintained that the party’s previous record demonstrated that economic growth and development could be achieved when government policies were deliberately targeted at improving the lives of ordinary citizens.
‘ITURA’ To Drive PDP Campaign
Central to Adebutu’s campaign is an agenda he described as “ITURA”, which literally means “relief”. He said the programme was designed to provide relief from what he described as the hardship, maladministration and corruption allegedly inflicted on the people of Ogun State.
Adebutu promised “total socio-economic liberation”, quality public service and what he described as a share in the “pedigree of prosperity” through five cardinal programmes.
The first is strategic state infrastructure, which he said would focus on providing the infrastructure required to support economic growth and improve the quality of life across the state.
The second is entrepreneurial development of the people and workforce, with emphasis on expanding opportunities for residents, businesses and workers.
The third is steering a strong and resilient economy, while the fourth focuses on stimulating functional and liveable communities.
The fifth pillar is accountability, transparency and a corruption-free work environment, which Adebutu said would be central to the management of public resources under his administration.
He said the five-point programme would provide the framework for his administration’s efforts to rebuild public institutions, stimulate economic activity and improve service delivery if elected.
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Promises Pensioners, LG Autonomy
Adebutu also made specific commitments to pensioners and local government councils.
He promised to ensure that pensioners receive their entitlements as and when due, stressing that elderly citizens who had spent their productive years serving the state should not be subjected to prolonged uncertainty over their benefits.
He equally promised to liberate the 20 local government councils from what he described as “financial bondage”.
According to him, genuine financial autonomy for the councils would create additional centres of development and enable communities to benefit directly from resources meant for grassroots development.
“True financial autonomy for our local governments will create an additional twenty nodes of development. This is not rocket science as the Otunba Gbenga Daniel led administration was able to practice this effectively,” he said.
Adebutu’s pledge places local government autonomy at the centre of his proposed governance model, with the candidate arguing that stronger councils would improve grassroots infrastructure, stimulate local economies and make government more responsive to communities.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
