ABEOKUTA – The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, has commended the enduring legacy of the Adebutu family, declaring his support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The monarch made the declaration on Sunday at the Ake Palace in Abeokuta while receiving Adebutu and other PDP leaders during a visit to the Egba Traditional Council to seek the blessings and support of traditional rulers for his governorship ambition.
Adebutu was accompanied by his running mate, Dr. Lateefat Sowunmi-Kolapo; the PDP senatorial candidate for Ogun Central, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello; the Ogun State PDP Chairman, Hon. Abayomi Tella; and other party leaders and candidates.
Speaking during the meeting, Oba Gbadebo recounted his long-standing relationship with Adebutu’s father, renowned businessman and philanthropist, Sir Kensington Adebutu, popularly known as Baba Adebutu.
The monarch narrated how members of a social club to which they both belonged had struggled to acquire a permanent secretariat after years of meeting in rented apartments and borrowed venues.
According to the Alake, when members eventually identified a building opposite the City Hall in Lagos and began raising funds for its purchase, Baba Adebutu asked everyone to keep their contributions and personally paid for the property.
“I have belonged to a particular club with Baba Adebutu for the past 30 years. In our early days, we rented an apartment where we held our meetings. However, we agreed that such an arrangement was not befitting of our club.
“At one point, a member generously offered us his house as our meeting venue, but we remained resolute that we needed a permanent secretariat of our own.
“Eventually, we found a building opposite the City Hall in Lagos and negotiated to purchase it. As members began contributing towards the cost, Baba Adebutu stood up and told us to keep the money we had contributed. He single-handedly paid for the building. That is the father of Oladipupo Adebutu. That is the father of Oladipupo Adebutu,” the monarch said.
Drawing a comparison between father and son, Oba Gbadebo expressed confidence in the PDP candidate’s character and leadership qualities.
The Alake publicly presented Adebutu to members of the Egba Traditional Council as “a man who is trustworthy and reliable,” while praying for the success of his governorship ambition.
“The son of a lion must resemble the lion. In fact, he is an even better version of his father. I welcome you to Egbaland. I am pleased to present Oladipupo Adebutu to all of you as a man who is trustworthy and reliable. May God continue to be with you and stand by you,” the monarch said.
He also offered prayers for the PDP candidate, expressing confidence that his political journey would be fruitful.
Addressing the traditional rulers, Adebutu pledged to grant full financial autonomy to local governments if elected governor, saying grassroots development could only thrive when local councils had direct access to their statutory allocations.
“I will do something that will stun this nation and put us in the right direction. Local governments shall get their own money,” he said.
The PDP candidate also accused governors across political parties of diverting local government funds, insisting that the practice had slowed development at the grassroots.
“It’s not a party thing. Both APC and PDP governors are embezzling local government allocations. It’s not a secret,” he alleged.
Adebutu maintained that his administration would prioritise transparent governance, infrastructure development and improved electricity supply through strategic partnerships with the private sector.
He said he would pursue road projects that would strengthen connectivity between Ogun State and Lagos, while also expanding access to electricity to stimulate economic growth and create jobs.
Highlighting his personal interventions in the power sector, Adebutu claimed he had donated more than 600 transformers to communities across Ogun State, describing electricity as a direct means of empowering residents and boosting economic activities.
“I offer myself for service,” he told the traditional rulers.
Also speaking, the Ogun State PDP Chairman, Hon. Abayomi Tella, said the state had experienced little meaningful development under the All Progressives Congress (APC), expressing confidence that Adebutu’s commitment to local government autonomy would accelerate development across the state.
The deputy governorship candidate, Dr. Lateefat Sowunmi-Kolapo, appealed to the people of Egbaland to support the PDP ticket, assuring the traditional rulers that an Adebutu administration would justify their confidence through inclusive governance and sustainable development.
