The 2027 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, has formally flagged off his campaign, promising to “liberate” the state from poverty, insecurity, unemployment and what he described as poor governance.
Adebutu unveiled his campaign agenda, tagged “ITURA DE”, meaning relief or liberation, on Wednesday, at the Ake Palace in Abeokuta, where he presented his address titled: “A Call to Liberation”.
The former federal lawmaker said the agenda would form the blueprint of his administration if elected, with a focus on restoring local government autonomy, improving workers’ welfare, reviving the economy and expanding access to social services.
According to Adebutu, the ITURA DE agenda is built around seven priority areas: improved security, law and order; local government financial autonomy and workers’ welfare; urban and regional development, physical planning and transportation; rural and border communities development; agricultural, economic and industrial development; development of women, youth and sports; and enhancement of education, healthcare and other social services.
He said the programmes would be anchored on strategic infrastructure development, entrepreneurship, economic resilience, functional communities, and accountability and transparency in governance.
Adebutu pledged to strengthen security across farms, highways and communities, while guaranteeing citizens the freedom to associate politically without fear of victimisation.
“With ITURA DE programmes, the seven cardinal pillars are designed to systematically eradicate entrenched poverty and restore power to the good people of Ogun State,” he said.
“We shall dismantle the architecture of fear, aggressively securing every farm, highway, and neighbourhood from lawlessness and also guarantee total freedom of choice of political leaning as a dividend of true democracy.”
The PDP candidate also promised to restore what he described as genuine financial autonomy to local governments, arguing that stronger councils would create additional centres of development across the state.
Workers’ welfare, he added, would be a major priority of his administration. He pledged to address outstanding pensions and gratuities and review the Contributory Pension Scheme.
On the economy, he said his administration would prioritise agriculture, vocational training, entrepreneurship and easier access to finance for farmers and young people. He promised zero-interest loans and other interventions to make farming more profitable.
He also pledged to review what he described as “predatory structures of double taxation” affecting traders and small business owners, while restructuring government policies to improve the ease of doing business.
At the campaign launch, the PDP deputy governorship candidate, Alhaja Yemi Showunmi-Kolapo, also called on Ogun residents to support the party, saying an Adebutu-led government would bring relief from poverty and what she described as maladministration.
Showunmi-Kolapo said supporters had demonstrated their commitment by attending the campaign despite the rain, arguing that it was Adebutu’s turn to govern the state.
“I want to assure you all that in Ogun State, there is freedom, relief is here. (ITURA DE). The last time we flagged off the National Assembly campaign, it rain and we moved in the rain.”
“Today as well, we are flagging off our governorship campaign, it rained and we moved in it. Don’t let them deceive you, we will gather like this during the inauguration of Hon. Ladi Adebutu as governor. Egba people, stand by your own.
“Former governors Ibikunle Amosun, Osoba Gbenga Daniel have governed Ogun, among others. The Adebutu family has been supporting and empowering the people of Ogun State. We want to tell the governor (Dapo Abiodun) that he should release the governorship seat, it’s Adebutu’s turn,” she said.
The Ogun PDP chairman, Abayomi Tella, similarly urged the electorate to vote for Adebutu, promising that the party would reciprocate the support with improved social amenities and good governance.
Credit to our Media Partner DailyTrust .
