2027: Ogun West Stakeholders Reject Yayi’s Governorship Bid, Endorse Ladi Adebutu

By Popoola Jamiu, Abeokuta

A group of Yewa indigenes under the aegis of the Ogun West Concerned Stakeholders Forum has declared its opposition to the governorship ambition of Senator Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, ahead of the 2027 Ogun State governorship election.

The group, which met in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, also threw its weight behind the governorship aspiration of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Hon. Oladipupo “Ladi” Adebutu, describing him as a grassroots politician with a longstanding relationship with the people of Ogun West.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, the stakeholders argued that Senator Adeola lacked the historical and political background necessary to represent the interests of Ogun West in the race for the state’s top office.

According to the forum, Adeola was not part of the grassroots political struggles of Ogun West and had allegedly opposed previous efforts by the district to produce a governor.

The group further claimed that the senator was neither an indigene of Ilaro nor a native of Yewaland, accusing him of working against Ogun West’s governorship aspirations during the 2019 and 2023 election cycles.

Speaking at the conference, the Coordinator of Yewalawa, Adesoji Adedeji, said the gathering was convened to set the record straight on the political history of Ogun West and explain why many stakeholders had resolved not to support Adeola’s governorship bid.

He alleged that members of the group had been subjected to insults for refusing to align with the senator’s aspiration.

“Today, we are here to make history and rewrite our story because some people have gone about insulting us simply because we do not support Senator Olamilekan Yayi’s governorship ambition,” he said.

Adedeji maintained that Adeola played no role in Ogun West’s previous struggles to produce a governor.

“When the late General Adetunji Olurin contested in 2011, Senator Yayi was nowhere to be found. In 2015, when Gboyega Isiaka (GNI) contested, we also did not see him in our political journey. Those were two election cycles in which he played no role in our struggle,” he stated.

He further alleged that rather than supporting Ogun West’s governorship aspirations in subsequent elections, the senator worked against them.

“In 2019, he opposed Ogun West’s quest to produce the governor. Again in 2023, when, for the first time in our political history, Ogun West presented a consensus governorship candidate in Biyi Otegbeye, Senator Yayi deployed his influence, resources and political network against that aspiration,” he alleged.

Adedeji said the group’s decision to support Adebutu was based on what he described as shared political history and longstanding relationships with the people of the district.

“The fundamental reason many of us cannot support him is that he does not share our historical background. He was not part of our struggles, our journey or our political evolution. That is why many of us have identified with the aspiration of Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, whom we see as one of us,” he added.

Also speaking, Adeshola Hakeem from Ijofin in Ipokia Local Government Area argued that although Ogun West deserved to produce the state’s next governor, the opportunity should go to what he described as a genuine indigene of the district.

“Since the creation of Ogun State, Ogun West has never produced a governor. This time, we believe it is only fair that a genuine indigene of Ogun West should emerge as governor,” he said.

Hakeem questioned Adeola’s connection with Ogun West, claiming the senator lacked deep-rooted ties and had no significant political antecedents in the district before recent years.

“We have not seen any meaningful antecedents, long-term commitment or significant contributions from such a person to Ogun West over the years. In 2019, he reportedly worked against Ogun West’s governorship aspiration, yet he now seeks to contest as the district’s candidate. These are legitimate concerns for many of us,” he said.

He added that stakeholders across political affiliations had agreed to support what they described as a credible and authentic indigene of Ogun West for the governorship.

In her remarks, Alhaja Olabisi Abegbe Ogundare of Ward 1, Ilaro, said members of the group attended the conference to publicly endorse Adebutu’s governorship ambition.

She described the PDP chieftain as a grassroots politician who had maintained a strong relationship with the people of Yewaland and supported Ogun West’s political aspirations over the years.

“We came to show our support for Ladi because of his consistent relationship with our people. We have known him since the days of our late leader, Buruji Kashamu, and he has stood by us for about 12 years,” she said.

According to her, Adebutu has consistently supported communities in Ogun West through various developmental interventions.

At the end of the meeting, the stakeholders resolved to sustain their campaign for the emergence of what they described as a credible indigenous candidate from Ogun West to contest the 2027 Ogun State governorship election.