2027: Ogun Indigenes Rally Behind Adebutu, Vow To Resist ‘Strangers’ In Governorship Race

…Adebutu promises to revive Ogun through seven-point ITURA DE agenda

Daud Olatunji

Indigenes of Ogun State have pledged to mobilise against what they described as external control of the state’s political leadership, declaring support for the ‘Ogun for Ogun’ movement ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The residents made the pledge during ward-to-ward consultations embarked upon by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Oladipupo Adebutu, and his running mate, Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, across the 20 local government areas of the state.

The grassroots engagements, which have attracted traditional stakeholders, market women, farmers, youths and political groups, provided opportunities for residents to express their grievances and demand solutions to pressing developmental challenges in their communities.

The PDP candidates also used the meetings to present their seven-point development agenda, tagged ITURA DE, while seeking support for their proposed administration.

At several of the meetings, residents reportedly welcomed the candidates with fanfare, with some pledging to embark on house-to-house mobilisation to secure victory for the PDP in the forthcoming election.

The ‘Ogun for Ogun’ campaign, which centres on the demand for indigenous leadership, featured prominently in the discussions, with some stakeholders arguing that the state’s political future should be determined by people with established roots and connections to its communities.

At Alagada Ward in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, a market leader, Mrs Folasade Ogunye, said women in the area were supporting the movement because of what she described as years of neglect of grassroots communities.

She identified poor road infrastructure and unemployment among young people as some of the challenges confronting residents, insisting that the state needed leadership that understood the everyday struggles of its people.

“We, the women of Obafemi Owode, have suffered neglect. Our roads to the markets are bad and our children need jobs. We want someone who grew up here, who knows our language and our struggles.

“That is why we have pledged to go from house to house to secure this mandate. It is about our pride as Ogun indigenes,” she said.

In another development, some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress at Alapakooni community in Obafemi Owode reportedly defected to the PDP, expressing dissatisfaction with their party’s political direction.

The defectors were said to have set some brooms, the APC’s political symbol, ablaze during the gathering as they announced their decision to abandon the party.

They reportedly cited concerns about the identity of the candidate they were expected to support as part of their reasons for leaving the APC.

A community youth coordinator, Tunde Akinola, said the decision to align with Adebutu was informed by the desire to support a candidate they believed understood the state.

“We decided to join this ward meeting today with our incoming governor, Adebutu, because we love our state and can’t trade it on the altar of politics. We want to follow the person we know and that will deliver,” he said.

Similarly, a farmer and stakeholder at Onidunu Ward, Deji Bamidele, lamented the poor state of agricultural mechanisation in the community, saying farmers continued to depend largely on traditional implements despite the need to increase food production.

He said Adebutu’s agricultural proposals under the ITURA DE agenda had encouraged farmers to identify with the campaign.

“In this community, farming is our life but we have been left with cutlasses while other states use tractors. When Adebutu explained ITURA DE and how agriculture will be mechanised, we saw hope.