Olayiwola Matthew
The 2023 gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, has regained freedom from the Department of State Services (DSS).
Adebutu was allegedly invited and subsequently detained on Monday in respect of his alleged involvement in some security breaches at Iperu, Ikenne local government area of the state, during last Saturday’s local government election in the state.
The former lawmaker was released on Tuesday.
In a statement Hon. Adebutu personally signed, titled “My experience and release from the DSS,” the former lawmaker stated that his resolve to see an independent local government through financial autonomy remain sacrosanct.
“At about 7am, Tuesday, 19th November, 2024, I was released by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abeokuta following an invitation to answer to various spurious accusations all arising from the November 16 Local Government election in Ogun State.
“Very sadly, the allegations were so baseless that it became clear that their purpose was to silence me as a voice of the opposition. My contention that those elections were not free and fair is my fundamental right to free speech and free thought.
“My thinking that the Local Government should have financial autonomy that can only be enforced by free and fair elections is germane to our development. Mr President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, shares the same view as mine which shows it is not a partisan position but a nationalistic one.
“However, because of the particular situation of Ogun State over the last five years, which I shall publish shortly, desperation has set in to emasculate the third tier of government completely; this is the struggle for our development.
“I seize this opportunity to appreciate our institutions as they gradually continue to grow. I must say I am pleasantly surprised at the professionalism and fairness the Department of State Services has treated this matter till date, particularly during my stay in their office”.
“I also acknowledge the judiciary for the forthright judgment we were able to obtain from the Ogun State High Court on Friday, 15th November, 2024, in suit AB/784/2024, a suit filed for the purpose of excluding the Peoples Democratic Party from participating in the Local Government elections”.
“I thank all stakeholders, well wishers and for that matter non-well wishers, because together, we must move the narration forward and arrive at good governance,” he said.