Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu on Monday said public service is a calling that has cost him business interests and personal wealth, as he outlined plans focused on security, local government autonomy and youth empowerment.




Adebutu stated this at a media parley in Abeokuta where he was joined by PDP leaders including running mate Alhaja Lateefat Sowunmi Kolapo, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo and other party candidates ahead of the 2027 election.


He said his involvement in politics over the years had come with heavy personal and economic sacrifices, but maintained that he remained committed to serving the people.


“Sometimes, we have to accept losses in pursuit of a greater purpose. I believe what I am doing is a calling,” he said.





Reflecting on his political sojourn, Adebutu said: “Since entering politics and public life, I have sacrificed a significant portion of my personal fortune. My businesses have suffered, and I have endured personal hardships.”


He, however, insisted that he had chosen a life of proximity to the people rather than personal luxury.


“I could choose to live in greater comfort. I could relocate to exclusive neighborhoods and enjoy a more convenient lifestyle. However, for over 30 years, I have continued to live among my people because leadership requires connection with the people one serves,” he said.


Adebutu also dismissed narratives suggesting he had not built independent economic ventures, arguing that his record in business, agriculture and philanthropy speaks for itself.


“None of us chooses the family into which we are born. If someone is fortunate to come from a successful family, should that be a source of shame? Certainly not,” he said, adding that he had invested his resources into job creation and economic development.


He said he is actively involved in large-scale livestock production, describing himself as “among the leading practitioners of animal husbandry in Nigeria.”


“I have the capacity to rear tens of thousands of sheep and thousands of cattle… when I donate rams to communities, it is because I raised them myself through years of investment and hard work,” he said.


He added that during the COVID-19 pandemic, he supported vulnerable households through direct distribution of livestock from his farms.


On governance, Adebutu said insecurity remains Nigeria’s most urgent challenge, lamenting poor infrastructure and inadequate funding for security agencies.


“Many police stations across our communities lack basic infrastructure, including electricity and operational vehicles,” he said, adding that he had personally supported security operations with fuel, diesel and logistics.


“It is disheartening that institutions charged with maintaining security often operate with inadequate resources, while public officials move around in convoys funded by taxpayers,” he said.


He disclosed that he had spent nearly 20 million naira on solar-powered streetlights across communities, arguing that lighting remains essential to reducing crime.


“Where there is light, there is improved security. Criminal activities thrive in darkness,” he said.


On local government administration, Adebutu criticized what he described as the erosion of grassroots autonomy, blaming state interference for weakening service delivery.


“The decline began when local government elections became heavily controlled at the state level,” he said.


He called for stronger local government autonomy, insisting that communities must have access to direct development and accountability.


Adebutu also stressed the need for structured urban and regional planning, warning against unregulated development driven by land speculation.


“Development requires planning, foresight, and a clear understanding of the needs of the people,” he said.


On education, he advocated a shift toward vocational, technical and digital training to prepare young Nigerians for modern economic realities.


“We are educating people, but we are not always equipping them with the tools needed to succeed in the real world,” he said.


Adebutu further emphasized agriculture as a major pathway for youth empowerment, noting that several young beneficiaries had improved their livelihoods through farming initiatives he supported.


He, however, identified access to affordable capital as a major constraint, calling for targeted financial interventions to support young entrepreneurs.


He said governance must ultimately focus on improving lives and creating opportunities.


“Governance is about improving lives… what matters most is that the people benefit,”  


He  also advocated greater investment in rural communities through improved roads, electricity, healthcare, education and security.


He said providing basic amenities in rural areas would reduce rural-urban migration and promote balanced development.


Adebutu explained that governance should be measured by its impact on citizens rather than personal recognition or political credit.


The governorship candidate stated that the PDP remained the only party that would take the masses to the promised land.


Also speaking, a senatorial candidate of the party, Sen. Iyabo Obasanjo, said she joined the party because she believed the party prioritized the welfare of the people.


Obasanjo, who is the PDP senatorial candidate for Ogun Central, described respect, integrity and trust as essential qualities of leadership and governance.


Obasanjo expressed confidence in the PDP leadership in Ogun and pledged to support efforts toward the state’s development.

 The state party chairman, Abayomi Tella, and other party leaders were also present at the media parley.