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Recently, Hon Ladi Adebutu, in a climatic grand finale ended a tour of 20 local governments at Abeokuta South LG, presenting his 2019 gubernatorial aspiration and having insights into the problems of Ogun State. ADEDEJI BABINGTON-ASHAYE writes an overview of the tour.
-Adedeji Babington-Ashaye
Precisely for five (5) months, Hon (Dr) Oladipipo Olatunde Adebutu, the Ogun State 2019 PDP gubernatorial aspirant, traversed the 20 local governments in Ogun State. The tour which kickstarted on March 2, 2018, at his local government, Odogbolu LG, ended on July 9, 2018 at Abeokuta South LG. It was, no doubt, a huge success as it was appreciated by party faithfuls and the good people of Ogun State who turned out emmasse to be part of the historic event.
Christened “Familiarisation and Visitation Tour”, it afforded Hon Adebutu among others the opportunity to discuss germane issues of party interest with the leaders and followers; to have a basic understanding of the issues affecting Ogun State and beyond rhetorics, to offer himself for service for the greater good of the people of Ogun State in 2019.
Party faithfuls and democracy lovers in their numbers converged at town halls, city centers and party secretariats in each LG. Adebutu presented his 2019 aspiration for the number one seat in the state. Revealing his 2019 agenda, Hon Adebutu told the people in clear terms he was qualified to lead the state given his records of achievements as a federal lawmaker and success in the private sector. Haven lived his entire life in Ogun State, according to him, gives him the opportunity to know and understand the real issues affecting the progress of Ogun and people in the state and the pragmatic solutions to them.
The excited people, in turn, expressed their confidence in his ability to lead the state and rescue it from backwardness and take it to the summit even beyond the summit. They, equally, stated their resolve and determination to support his aspiration in 2019 considering his credibility and personality as a compassionate man and one who upholds dearly service to humanity as his heritage.
Meanwhile, in the course of the tour, Adebutu donated 95 500KVA transformers to several communities. Subjected to total neglect by the incumbent government in the state, the leaders of the affected communities had prior to the commencement of the tour made intervention requests to Adebutu. They claimed their communities had been in the dark for over 6 years with very few experiencing irregularity of power supply due to excess loading on existing transformers.
However, the federal lawmaker acceeded to their requests and 95 communities benefitted from his largesse. Adebutu, while presenting the transformers to the communities, said that his decision to acceede to their requests was propelled by his conviction that electricity was very germane to any nation that cherished development, progress and good life for her people.
He said the transformers would enhance sure and steady economic development of the benefitting communities. He enjoined them to safeguard the transformers religiously from vandals. He pledged to donate transformers to all the 236 wards in Ogun State.
Some of the communities that received brand new 500KVA transformers include Sagamu LG: Eyita Ogijo, Iwajowa Ogijo, Ewuga and Mobalufon; Yewa South LG: Ogburu, Ajilete and Folasade/Oke Ogbun; Abeokuta South: Ijeun Tuntun, Oke Ejigbo, Kotogbo Asero, Surulere Ita Eko and Egbadotun/Saraki Adigbe; Imeko Afon LG: Iwoye Ketu, Obada and Idofa; Ijebu North LG: Isamuro, Agbodo and Sabo/Moborode; Ogun Waterside: Moborode Iwopin and Abigi; Ijebu Ode LG: Sabo, Isiwo, Adeyelu.
Ado Odo Ota LG: Ado Odo, Agbara, Igbesa, Onipanu, Papa, Ilogbo; Odogbolu LG: Ikangba, Aiyepe, Imosan, Odogbolu I, Odogbolu II, Imaweje, Egbe; Remo North LG: Ode, Ipara, Isara; Obafemi Owode LG: Ibafo I, Ibafo II, Adigbe, Isiun, Kobape, Ajebo, Aseese, Egbeda and Ifo LG: Sawmill/Bungalow and Isheri town. Many other towns benefitted but for want of space.
Moreover, in some places where Hon Ladi, for inevitable reasons, could not present the transformers physically, the Senior Legislative Aide and political chieftain, Hon Owoseye Sonuga and the delectable and supportive wife of Hon Ladi, Yeye Adenike Adebutu, were on ground to make the presentations.
As the maxim says behind a successful man is a good woman. Yeye Adenike proved this maxim right. To give the consultation tour more value and feminine touch, she organised a lot of activities that were not only impressive but highly valuable to the 2019 gubernatorial project of her husband.
With a mind set to deliver on all fronts, Adebutu visited several places of painful concerns like River Orori in Aiyetoro, Yewa South LG. He identified with the pains of the residents over the hardship the river brings each time it rains. The river overflows its banks heavily with the water level rising to human height of about 4 feet thereby making it impossible for human and vehicular movement on Alaye High School road. Adebutu, however, assured them of his willingness to partner with them to finding a lasting remedy.
Not only that. Adebutu visited the site of a mini bridge he is assisting the Ajogbo Community Development Association to construct over River Atuwara in Ajibode, Ado Odo Ota LG. He also donated N1 million for the backfilling of the bridge.
Furthermore, several political office seekers under the umbrella of PDP used the opportunity of the tour to announce their interest to replace the incumbent elective office holders in Ogun State. In a similar vein, Ogun State House of Assembly lawmakers elected on the platform of All Progressive Congress, leaders and thousands of members of APC, UPN, SDP, Accord Party and several groups formally declared for and decamped to PDP. They pledged their readiness to be committed to the ideals of the party and work assiduously for the success of Hon Ladi’s aspiration in 2019.
As a thoroughbred Omoluabi and not one given to disrepecting and desecrating traditional institution, the billionaire business man made it a point of duty to pay homage to the revered kabiyesis in all the places visited. He received their royal blessings and encouragement.
Some of the kabiyesis he paid courtesy visits to included HRM Oba Aremu Gbadebo, Alake of Egbaland, HRM Oba Olufemi Omolade, Olubara of Ibara, HRM Oba Adegboyega Dosumu, Olowu of Owu Kingdom. Oba Dosunmu conferred on him the title of Omogbademu of Owu Kingdom. Others are HRM Oba Rasaq Adenugba, Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye, HRM Oba Adedeji Onagoruwa, Alaye of Odogbolu, HRM Oba Adetoye Alatishe, Gbegande of Ososa, HRM Oba Azeez Adelakun, Alaye of Aiyetoro, HRM Oba Adedayo Shyllon, Olu of Agbado, HRM Oba Benjamin Oyeditan, Onimeko of Imeko among others
The Baales of villages and towns in their numbers, community and various religious leaders received Adebutu with brotherly handshake. For instance, the octogenarian Chief Imam of Egbaland, Sheu Olaosebikan Odusolu, praised Hon Ladi for his exemplary service to humanity. He prayed to Allah to grant his request in 2019. So shall it be.
Meanwhile, in the course of the tour, Hon Ladi made stopovers at major and minor markets in Ogun State. He established robust relationship with the traders. He patronised them by purchasing their wares. The traders expressed their pains and shared with him their expectations when he becomes the governor of Ogun State in 2019. A confident Adebutu assured them of a bouyant economy come 2019 and beyond.
Adebutu also used the moment to pay sympathy visits to the victims of fire incidences at Sagamu, Owode and Ikenne markets. Troubled by the massive damages caused by the fire, Lado donated millions of naira to the victims to help them get back to business.
As the race towards Oke Imosan 2019 draws closer, Hon Oladipupo Adebutu is set to offer the good people of the state servant leadership. With an unbiased mind, he is determined to bring even development to all the sections in Ogun. To achieve this, as he posited, local government must be given back to the people and be autonomous. Apparently, good times are here.
