The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, has identified agriculture as a key driver of job creation and poverty reduction, citing initiatives he has supported to encourage youth participation in farming and livestock production through access to finance and technical support.
Adebutu made the remarks during a media parley with journalists on Monday, where he also advocated full autonomy for local governments across Nigeria and called on the Federal Government to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct local government elections as a means of promoting transparency, accountability and grassroots development.
According to him, Nigeria’s local government system was originally designed to bring governance closer to the people but has been weakened by excessive state control over council administration and elections.
The former member of the House of Representatives argued that meaningful national development can only be achieved when local governments operate independently, transparently and remain directly accountable to the people they serve.
He maintained that many of the deficiencies affecting Nigeria’s democratic system could be traced to the period when INEC ceased conducting local government elections.
“The flaws we see in our democracy today became more pronounced after INEC stopped conducting local government elections. The decline began when local government elections became heavily controlled at the state level. Once local governments lost their independence and accountability to the people, their effectiveness diminished.
“We must find a way for INEC to conduct local government elections and allow the people to question the running of those councils. When citizens have the right to hold local governments accountable, there will be better performance from local councils, state governments and the Federal Government.
“This is not merely my opinion. Even the President has publicly acknowledged concerns about the misuse of resources meant for local governments. The consequences have been severe—weakened local institutions, poor service delivery, inadequate infrastructure and limited development at the grassroots level,” he said.
Adebutu stressed that local government autonomy, security and accountability remain interconnected pillars of good governance, insisting that strengthening democratic institutions at the grassroots would create a more equitable and prosperous society.
The PDP chieftain also outlined his broader vision for governance, identifying insecurity as Nigeria’s foremost challenge.
He lamented the poor state of security infrastructure, revealing that he had personally committed resources over the years to support security agencies through fuel supply, vehicle rehabilitation and the installation of solar-powered streetlights in communities.
According to him, nearly ₦20 million has been invested in recent years on solar-powered street lighting projects aimed at improving security and reducing criminal activities in underserved communities.
On rural development, Adebutu advocated increased investment in infrastructure, electricity, roads, healthcare and education to curb rural-urban migration and stimulate economic growth at the grassroots.
Speaking on education, he called for reforms that place greater emphasis on vocational training, entrepreneurship, digital literacy and moral instruction. He argued that Nigeria’s education system must equip young people with practical skills relevant to the modern economy rather than focusing solely on academic qualifications.
Adebutu also reflected on his personal sacrifices in public service, stating that he has devoted a significant portion of his personal resources to philanthropy, community development and citizen empowerment initiatives.
“Leadership requires connection with the people one serves. For over 30 years, I have chosen to live among my people because service is a calling. My journey has never been about personal comfort; it has always been about impact and leaving society better than I met it,” he said.
The PDP governorship candidate further urged citizens to actively participate in the democratic process and hold public office holders accountable, stressing that democracy can only flourish when the people are willing to speak truth to power and demand responsive, people-oriented governance.
Among those present at the media parley were the PDP Ogun Central Senatorial Candidate, Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello; the party’s Deputy Governorship Candidate, Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo; Ogun State PDP Chairman, Abayomi Tella; House of Representatives candidate for Ijebu Central, Wale Okunbadejo; Segun Adekoya; and other party leaders and stakeholders.
