A socio-political group, Ogun West Initiative has cautioned the Governorship and Senatorial candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ladi Adebutu and Senator Iyabo Obasanjo to play their politics beyond personal vendettas.
It would be recalled that the duo and the All Progressives Congress, APC candidate, Senator Olamilekan Adeola have been at loggerheads over the coming general elections in the State.
The Convener of the group, Olootu Bolaji Adeniji at news conference held in Abeokuta, the State capital on Sunday, said political conversation in the State must be elevated beyond personal vendettas and recurring cycle of sensational claims and personality contests.
Adeniji said the people of the State deserve robust engagements and debates on governance issues and development imperatives such as security, jobs, education, healthcare, infrastructure, industrialization and economic prosperity.
He accused Adebutu and some opposition figures of abandoning issue-based politics in favour of personal attacks and campaigns aimed at discrediting the APC governorship candidate.
Adeniji said the 2027 governorship contest should focus on competing ideas and policies capable of advancing the State rather than, what, he termed, campaigns of calumny and political vendetta.
He alleged that the PDP candidate and his allies had resorted to sponsored propaganda, investigations and legal maneuvers in a bid to force Senator Adeola out of the race, insisting that such efforts would not succeed
Adeniji therefore noted that Senator Adeola, has conducted himself thus far in his engagement since emerging the flagbearer of the party, stressing that
in all his consultations he has had with various groups and stakeholders around the state, he remained focused on his agenda and plan of action if elected to office as governor.
He said “It is our belief that political conversation in Ogun State must be elevated beyond personal vendettas and recurring cycle of sensational claims and personality contests. As we approach the official campaign seasons in few weeks, our people deserve robust engagements and debates on governance issues and development imperatives such as security, jobs, education, healthcare, infrastructure, industrialization and economic prosperity. As stakeholders in the Ogun State project, we will, as our custom is, lend our voice and not be silent while public discourse is increasingly diverted from these lofty issues that truly matter”.
On the conduct of Senator Adeola, said ”
At the risk of sounding immodest or playing up partisan sentiments, we have noted with great admiration, the manner and and candour with which the gubernatorial candidate of the APC, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, has conducted himself thus far in his engagement since emerging the flagbearer of the party. In all of the consultations he has had with various groups and stakeholders around the state, he remained focused on his agenda and plan of action if elected to office as governor”.
“Notwithstanding the groundswell of few naysayers desperately working overtime to discredit the mandate he was freely given by party faithfuls, YAYI has maintained studied decorum and refused to be swayed by such campaigns of calumny; preferring to continue marketing his lofty agenda to the people while ignoring the agent provocateurs. This attitude is not only commendable, it reflects the type of leadership that is rare in our clime – one that is focused on purpose, he stated.
“On the contrary, we have observed in recent times that some political gladiators, rather than emulate the APC flagbearer by making the campaigns issue-based, prefer to engage in politics of bitterness and vendetta. One of such persons, unfortunately so, is former Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, who has repeatedly directed public criticism at the governorship candidate of our great party.
Every democracy accommodates criticism, and no public office holder or political leader is above scrutiny. However, criticism should be factual and constructive. It should not become a recurring exercise in personal attacks that distracts from the serious issues before the people”.
On attacks on Senator Adeola, he stated “Senator Iyabo Obasanjo appears to have made Senator Adeola the subject of her public engagements. Rather than present her own political vision and legislative agenda to the electorate, much attention has been devoted to attacking one individual; devising falsehoods and innuendos against YAYI just to gain public traction.
We find this most uncharitable to say the least. As someone who has served the state in two capacities, first a Commissioner and then a Senator, it will be assumed that better discretion would guide her actions and not the media theatrics and political melodrama she’s whipping to sustain relevance after 15 years in political wilderness”.
“We thought that having been put in her rightful place by the measured rebuttal to her outlandish claims by YAYI few days back, she would beat a honourable retreat, but to our charging, she has sustained the media onslaught, crying wolf where there is none. Our respectful advice to her is simple: Senator Iyabo Obasanjo should cease and desist from her campaign of calumny against YAYI
Ogun people are politically sophisticated enough to distinguish between genuine leadership and political theatrics. The people have moved on to entertaining campaign promises, evaluating policy proposals from formidable candidates and assessing who will improve their social and economic welfare; and not someone still whining about post-primary loss”, he stressed.
Adeniji said, “In similar fashion, we have also observed what appears to be sustained efforts from political opponents to question, challenge or undermine Senator Adeola’s political aspirations through various public campaigns and spurious legal processes. That these efforts are motivated by politics is ultimately for the public to judge. What is clear, however, is that no amount of distraction can substitute for the hard work of earning the confidence of the electorate”.
According to him, “Elections are won through the ballot, through ideas and through the trust of the people; and not through attempts to shift public attention away from substantive issues. It is on these premise that we condemn the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP, Honourable Ladi Adebutu and his co-conspirators for the desperate but clandestine steps being taken to push YAYI out of the gubernatorial race.
It has become apparent, by what we see around Ogun State today that the masses daily embrace YAYI as their preferred and undisputed electoral choice for the Okemosan seat of power come February 2027. Undoubtedly overwhelmed by our candidate’s popularity and with imminent defeat starring in the face, the Adebutu camp have gone into an overdrive and shifted the gear higher in seeking for antidemocratic means to stop YAYI from the elections”.
Adeniji stated “Thus far, the suite of strategy they have employed continues to fall like a pack of badly arranged cards. Let is be stated that no private investigation into YAYI’s origin, no forensic scrutiny of his service in the national assembly and no inquest into his private family or past professional life – will bring anything good for these morbidly desperate elements”.
He emphasized “Ladi Adebutu should stop wasting his family’s wealth trying to get YAYI out of the governorship race. He should go and prepare for a campaign based on ideas and practical solutions. The people of Ogun State deserve to hear competing visions for the future of our state and not sponsored videos, write-ups and gossips aimed at bringing down a popular candidate.
If Adebutu has better policies, let them be presented, if there are superior programmes, let them be debated; If there are stronger ideas, let the people evaluate them; That is what democracy demands and what Ogun people want. We say enough to insults and casting aspersion on our candidate by the hirelings of Adebutu whose latest ambition is a stillborn because an Iperu man will never succeed another Iperu man; Ogun people will never support such an anathema!”.
He said “Gentlemen of the press, as we approach another important electoral season, I have absolute confidence in the wisdom and maturity of the people of Ogun State. Our people cannot be distracted from evaluating those who seek to lead them based on competence, character, capacity and a demonstrable record of public service.
Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola has built relationships across every part of Ogun State. His record in public office, accessibility to the people and commitment to development have earned him broad support across political, traditional, professional and community circles”.
“That growing support is not accidental. It reflects the confidence many citizens have in his ability to provide purposeful and inclusive leadership from May 29th 2027. We therefore call on supporters of YAYI throughout Ogun State to remain peaceful, law-abiding and focused. Let no one be provoked by distractions or negative campaigns. Continue to engage with the people respectfully and confidently in our communities. History has shown that truth, consistency and genuine service always prevail over propaganda”, he stated.
He said “I believe Ogun State is ready for a new phase of accelerated development driven by visionary leadership, prudent management of resources, economic expansion, industrial growth, youth empowerment, improved infrastructure and inclusive governance. With the continued support of the good people of Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola has the experience, capacity and progressive vision to lead our state to greater heights”.
He concluded, “Let us therefore reject bitterness, vendetta, and campaigns built on distractions; but embrace the politics of ideas, transformative policies and progress. That is the Ogun State our people deserve and that is the Ogun State YAYI is brewing”.
