A Peoples Democratic Party chieftain and House of Assembly candidate for Abeokuta South Constituency II, Adeoye Adewale Adeniran, popularly known as A3, has warned against using the agitation by Ogun West to produce the next governor of the state as a platform to impose what he described as a “Lagos proxy” on the people.
Adeniran said the people of Ogun State supported the legitimate aspiration of the Yewa-Awori axis to produce the next governor but would resist any attempt to use the agitation to promote a candidate he described as a “non-indigene with identity crisis.”
He spoke while reacting to the recent reaffirmation of support for Ogun West to produce the next governor by the Olota of Ota, Oba Abdulkabir Adeyemi Obalanlege, during a visit by the PDP governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, to the monarch and other Awori traditional rulers.
Adeniran said the demand for power rotation to Ogun West was legitimate and should not be dismissed on ethnic or sectional grounds.
“Truly, as a Yewa indigene, I believe it is right for Ogun West to produce the next governor of Ogun State. But we cannot, because of that legitimate aspiration, allow a non-indigene or a proxy from Lagos to lead us. If we do, we will all regret it,” he said.
The PDP candidate urged voters to look beyond ethnic sentiments, saying the identity, credibility, competence and connection of whoever seeks to govern the state should be the major considerations in the 2027 election.
He said leadership required transparency and trust, arguing that a person who could not be trusted with “little things” should not be handed the responsibility of governing the state.
Adeniran declared his support for Adebutu, describing the PDP candidate as a man of integrity, honesty and proven indigenous identity who, in his view, was best positioned to lead Ogun State.
He also welcomed a reported clarification by the Onilogbo of Ilogbo, Oba Dr Samuel Olufemi Ojugbele, who distanced himself from any interpretation suggesting that traditional rulers had collectively endorsed a particular political candidate.
According to the monarch’s reported position, traditional rulers had only one vote each, while the ultimate decision on who governs the state rested with the electorate.
The monarch was also quoted as saying that the voices, choices and aspirations of the people must be respected, stressing that only God could crown a mortal.
Adeniran said the position underscored the need for traditional institutions to allow voters to independently determine their political choices rather than presenting the position of an individual monarch as a collective endorsement.
He also cited reported expressions of support for Adebutu in Egba communities in Sango, Ijoko and Ota, arguing that political choices in the state could not be determined by one traditional institution or geographical axis.
The development has also triggered clarifications from other traditional institutions.
The Palace of the Olofin Adimula Oodua of Ado-Odo, Oba Olusola Idris Osolo Adebowale Otenibotemole II, reportedly dissociated itself from the position attributed to the Olota’s Palace in connection with an “Awori Obas Forum.”
The palace said the visit to the Olota should not be interpreted as representing all Awori traditional rulers in Ogun State.
It further stated that there was no legally recognised Awori Traditional Council or Awori Council of Obas in Ogun State with statutory authority to confer on an individual monarch the mandate to speak on behalf of all Awori traditional rulers in the state.
The Olofin’s Palace also maintained that the Olofin of Ado-Odo occupied a distinct and historically established traditional position within the Ado-Odo/Awori area and should not be subsumed under a purported Awori Obas Forum without statutory recognition.
Reacting to the development, Adeniran said the controversy should ultimately be settled by voters at the polls.
He argued that Ogun residents deserved a governor who understood the state’s challenges, had genuine ties to its people and could be held accountable by the electorate.
The PDP candidate also attacked the ruling All Progressives Congress, accusing the party of failing to adequately address the economic and social challenges facing residents.
“The APC has nothing to offer Ogun State people aside from the usual poverty, hunger, suffering, insecurity and deceit,” he alleged.
“They cannot continue to create crises and pretend to be the solution to the challenges they are creating.”
Adeniran, who is seeking election to the Ogun State House of Assembly to represent Abeokuta South Constituency II, said his campaign would focus on accountable representation, pragmatic legislation and people-centred development.
He pledged to provide accessible and responsive representation, with emphasis on issues affecting the livelihoods, economic opportunities and welfare of constituents.
He urged voters across the three senatorial districts to reject ethnic and sectional considerations and scrutinise the antecedents, identity, credibility and capacity of all governorship candidates before deciding their choice in 2027.
Adeniran specifically urged the electorate to consider Adebutu as, in his assessment, the candidate capable of providing the leadership Ogun State needs.
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