2027: Ogun West stakeholders back Adebutu for governor By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta Political stakeholders from Ogun West Senatorial District, under the aegis of Ogun West Concerned Stakeholders, on Thursday declared their opposition to the governorship ambition of Senator Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, ahead of the 2027 Ogun State governorship election, insisting that the lawmaker lacks the historical, political, and ancestral roots to represent the district. The stakeholders, who spoke at a conference held in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area, also endorsed the governorship aspiration of the Peoples Democratic Party, or PDP, candidate, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, describing him as a politician with a longstanding relationship with the people of Ogun West. They alleged that Senator Adeola was neither an indigene of Ilaro nor of Yewaland, accusing him of working against Ogun West's governorship aspirations during the 2019 and 2023 elections. Addressing the conference on behalf of the group, Adetunji Adedeji said the gathering was convened to correct what he described as false narratives surrounding the political history of Ogun West and the 2027 governorship contest. According to him, many members of the group had been subjected to insults for refusing to support Adeola's governorship ambition. He said, "Today, we are here to rewrite our story because, over time, some people have gone around calling us 'bastards' simply because we do not support the governorship aspiration of Senator Olamilekan Adeola in Ogun State." Adedeji maintained that Adeola was absent during the major political struggles of Ogun West in previous governorship elections. "When the late General Adetunji Olurin contested the governorship in 2011, Senator Yayi was nowhere to be found. In 2015, when Gboyega Isiaka contested, we also did not see him as part of 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 collective governorship aspirations, the senator worked against them. "In 2019, he opposed the success of Ogun West. Again in 2023, when, for the first time in our political history, Ogun West presented a consensus governorship candidate in Biyi Otegbeye, Senator Adeola deployed his influence, resources, and political network against that aspiration." The stakeholder argued that beyond politics, the issue was one of identity and shared history. "The fundamental reason some 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," Adedeji added. Another stakeholder, Adesola Hakeem from Ijofin, in Ipokia Local Government Area, said Ogun West had been denied the governorship seat since the creation of Ogun State and deserved the opportunity in 2027. He, however, insisted that the opportunity should be reserved for whom he described as a "genuine indigenous person" of the district. "Ever 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, alleging that the senator only identified with the district in 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. "If Ogun West cannot produce a credible son of the soil, then we would rather support another qualified indigene from another part of Ogun State than hand over our mandate to someone whose roots in the district remain questionable." He added that stakeholders across political parties had resolved to support "a credible and authentic indigene" of Ogun State for the state's highest office. Also speaking, Alhaja Olabisi Ogundare, a community leader from Ward 1, Ilaro, said she attended the conference alongside other residents to publicly endorse Adebutu's governorship ambition. She described the PDP stalwart as someone whose relationship with the people of Yewaland predates recent political realignments. "We came here to support Lado because of his long-standing relationship with our people. We have known him since the days of our late leader, Senator Buruji Kashamu, and he has stood with us for over 12 years," she said. Ogundare also cited what she described as Adebutu's consistent support for communities across Ogun West. "Every year, Lado supports our people with rice, chickens, cows, and rams. Because of his long-standing relationship with us and the support he has consistently given, we have decided to support him wholeheartedly." She also expressed doubts over Adeola's local roots. "The person they say is from Ogun West is not someone I know. As someone from Ward 1 in Ilaro, I had never known him before now. He may be an indigene; I cannot say, but who I know is Lado, and we have chosen to stand with him." The stakeholders maintained that Ogun West deserved to produce the next governor of Ogun State but stressed that whoever emerges as the district's candidate must possess verifiable ancestral roots, a longstanding relationship with the people, and a proven commitment to the development of the region. When contacted, Kayode Odunaro described the group as faceless, insisting that Adeola’s indigeneship had long been settled. He said, “Reaction to a faceless group on a settled matter? Please.”