The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, on Sunday endorsed the governorship ambition of the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, describing him as a “trustworthy and reliable” leader capable of governing Ogun State.
The monarch gave the endorsement at the Ake Palace, Abeokuta, while receiving Adebutu and other leaders of the PDP during a visit to the Egba Traditional Council to seek royal blessings ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Adebutu was accompanied by his running mate, Dr. Lateefat Sowunmi-Kolapo; the party’s Ogun Central Senatorial candidate, Iyabo Obasanjo; Ogun PDP Chairman, Abayomi Tella; and other party leaders.
Addressing the gathering, Oba Gbadebo recalled his decades-long relationship with Adebutu’s father, renowned businessman and philanthropist, Sir Kensington Adebutu, popularly known as Baba Ijebu, saying his generosity and integrity had earned him lasting respect.
The monarch narrated how Sir Kensington single-handedly purchased a building to serve as the permanent secretariat of a social club after members struggled to raise funds.
According to him, the elder Adebutu instructed members to keep their contributions and personally paid for the property.
Drawing parallels between father and son, the Alake said Oladipupo Adebutu had demonstrated similar qualities of character and generosity.
“The son of a lion must resemble the lion. In fact, he is an even better version of his father,” the monarch said.
Presenting the PDP governorship candidate to members of the Egba Traditional Council, Oba Gbadebo declared, “I am pleased to present Oladipupo Adebutu to all of you as a man who is trustworthy and reliable.”
He prayed for the success of Adebutu’s political ambition, expressing confidence that the governorship hopeful would not regret seeking to lead the state.
Speaking during the visit, Adebutu pledged to grant full financial autonomy to the 20 local government areas if elected governor, saying the move would accelerate grassroots development.
He accused successive governors, irrespective of political affiliation, of withholding or diverting local government allocations, insisting that councils performed better when they had direct access to their funds.
“It’s not a party thing. Both APC and PDP, all the governors are embezzling local government allocations. It’s not a secret,” he alleged.
The PDP flag bearer said he remained committed to institutional reforms that would strengthen local governance and improve service delivery.
Adebutu also highlighted his record as a former member of the House of Representatives, saying he served without being implicated in corruption.
“I was at the National Assembly twice and I can boast that I didn’t embezzle public funds. How many politicians can say this?” he asked.
On infrastructure, he promised to pursue alternative financing models instead of depending heavily on loans, while pledging to construct strategic roads linking Ogun communities with Lagos to boost economic activities.
He also identified electricity as a major priority, promising to partner with private investors to improve power supply across the state.
According to him, stable electricity would stimulate businesses, reduce production costs and create employment opportunities.