The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, on Sunday said he has consistently sacrificed personal comfort, business interests and wealth in pursuit of public service, insisting that his political journey is driven by a “calling” rather than personal ambition.
Adebutu spoke at a media parley held in Abeokuta, where he was flanked by leaders of the PDP in the state, including his running mate, Alhaja Lateefat Sowunmi Kolapo, Senator Prof Iyabo Obasanjo, and other candidates of the party ahead of the forthcoming 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 journey, 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 neighbourhoods 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 added.
He disclosed that he had spent nearly ₦20 million 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 criticised 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.
