2027: Alake Backs Adebutu for Ogun Governorship

The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, has declared his support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, ahead of the 2027 election.

The royal endorsement came when Adebutu, accompanied by members of his campaign team, visited the Egba Traditional Council to seek the blessings of the monarchs for his governorship ambition.

During the meeting, Oba Gbadebo praised the Adebutu family for its long history of generosity and contributions to the growth and development of Egbaland. He recalled the role played by Adebutu’s father, Chief Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu, in helping an Egba association secure a permanent secretariat in Lagos.

According to the monarch, members of the association had been raising money to buy a building located opposite the City Hall in Lagos when Chief Adebutu asked them to stop contributing and paid the full cost of the property himself. He said the gesture remained one of the family’s lasting contributions to the Egba community.

After recounting the story, the traditional ruler offered prayers for Adebutu and gave him his support before members of the Egba Traditional Council. He expressed confidence that the PDP candidate’s political journey would produce positive results and wished him success in his quest to govern Ogun State.

Responding to the endorsement, Adebutu thanked the royal fathers for their prayers and support. He promised that if elected governor in 2027, his administration would strengthen governance at the grassroots by granting full financial autonomy to local government councils.

The PDP candidate, who was accompanied by his running mate, Dr. Lateefat Sowunmi-Kolpapo, said allowing local governments to control their finances would speed up development projects and improve public services across the state.

Adebutu also said future infrastructure development should rely more on creative financing and partnerships rather than depending mainly on loans. He explained that his administration would focus on building roads that improve connectivity between Ogun and Lagos while promoting partnerships between the government and the private sector to expand electricity supply.

He added that better electricity would reduce energy costs and improve the earning capacity of residents and businesses.

The governorship candidate also accused past administrations of denying local governments the independence needed to carry out meaningful development. He argued that governors, regardless of political party, had continued to control local government allocations instead of allowing the councils to manage their own resources.

According to him, genuine grassroots development can only be achieved when local councils receive and manage their statutory allocations independently while working closely with traditional institutions.

Adebutu also pledged that his administration would be inclusive and would place the welfare and well-being of the people at the centre of its policies and programmes.