By: Danyiwo Femmy David.
Introduction: The Gateway State Belongs to Its People.
Ogun State is more than a dot on the map of Nigeria. It is the Gateway State — a land of firsts, of culture, of industry, and of courage. From the Egba to the Ijebu, Remo to Yewa, Awori to Egbado, Ogun is a mosaic of proud people who have shaped Nigeria’s history. Our soil has produced statesmen, entrepreneurs, academics, and freedom fighters. We do not outsource our destiny. We do not sell our birthright.
Today, as 2027 draws closer, Ogun State faces a defining question: Who will lead us next? Leadership is not a commodity to be bought, and governorship is not a chieftaincy title to be dashed to the highest bidder. It is a sacred trust. And that trust must rest with a son of the soil — a man who knows our roads, speaks our language, and feels our pain. That man is Hon. Dr. Oladipupo Adebutu.
The Politics of Identity: Why “Son of the Soil” Matters.
Governance is not abstract. It is personal. The man who leads Ogun must understand why Sango-Ota floods every rainy season. He must know why farmers in Ijebu-Igbo cannot move produce to Lagos without losing half to bad roads. He must feel the frustration of graduates in Abeokuta who have certificates but no jobs.
This is why identity matters. You cannot govern a people you do not know. You cannot love a land you do not belong to. Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly called Yayi, is not from Ogun State. His political roots, his base, and his primary constituency have been Lagos West. Ogun is not a fallback plan. Ogun is not a consolation prize. Ogun is not for sale to political tourists.
Ogun’s History of Home-Grown Leadership.
Check the records. From Chief Olabisi Onabanjo to Chief Olusegun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel, Ibikunle Amosun, and Prince Dapo Abiodun — every governor of Ogun State has been a man of the soil. That is not coincidence. It is wisdom. The people of Ogun have always insisted that he who wears the cap must know the weight of the head.
To break that tradition now is to tell our children that their identity does not matter. It is to say that Ogun can be governed by proxy. We reject that. Ogun State is not for sale.
The Case for Hon. Dr. Oladipupo Adebutu.
Hon Dr.Oladipupo Adebutu is not a stranger to Ogun. He is Ogun. Born in Iperu-Remo, raised in the traditions of enterprise and service, educated at home and abroad, he represents the best of two worlds: local roots and global vision.
His record speaks:
Empowerment: Through personal and foundation initiatives, thousands of Ogun indigenes have received scholarships, startup capital, and agricultural support. Not campaign promises — verifiable impact.
Representation: As a member of the House of Representatives for Remo Federal Constituency, he moved motions and attracted projects that touched lives. He did not wait to be governor to serve.
Accessibility: Ladi is not a Lagos-based politician who visits Ogun in a convoy. He lives among his people. From Iperu to Ago-Iwoye, his door is open.
Vision: His blueprint for Ogun focuses on agro-industrial transformation, tech-driven education, primary healthcare revival, and rural road networks. It is Ogun-specific, not a photocopy of Lagos policy.
This is the man of the soil. This is the right man for the job.
Why Yayi Cannot Take Over Ogun State.
Let us be clear and respectful: Senator Solomon Adeola has served in the National Assembly. No one disputes his right to aspire. But aspiration must meet legitimacy. Ogun people are asking basic questions:
Where is home? Political relevance in Ogun cannot start and end with election season. Where was the consistent investment in Yewa, Egba, Ijebu, and Remo communities before the governorship ambition?
What is the agenda? Beyond slogans, what is the Ogun-specific development plan? Our challenges are not Lagos challenges. You cannot copy and paste solutions.
Who sent you? The groundswell of support for Hon Dr. Oladipupo Adebutu is organic — market women, artisans, students, traditional rulers. Can the same be said across all 20 LGA’s for Yayi?
Ogun cannot be an experiment. Ogun cannot be a political retirement plan. Ogun State is not for sale.
The Danger of “Imported Governorship”.
When a state is governed by someone without deep roots, three things happen:
Capital flight: Loyalty remains with the “home base.” Projects, contracts, and appointments drift elsewhere.
Cultural disconnect: Policies fail because they do not reflect the people’s way of life. You cannot run Ijebu like Ikeja.
Accountability gap: When your family, your history, and your future are not tied to the land, you can walk away when it gets tough. Ogun people will be left with the consequences.
We saw it in other states. We will not import it here.
What Ogun State Needs in 2027.
Ogun State does not need a celebrity governor. Ogun State needs a chief servant. The next governor must :
Fix our roads: From Atan-Lusada-Agbara to Sagamu-Ikorodu, our industrial corridors are bleeding.
Revive agriculture: We feed Lagos. Yet our farmers are poor. We need farm settlements 2.0, storage hubs, and off-take guarantees.
Power our SMEs: Ifo, Sango, and Abeokuta are full of entrepreneurs. They need power, credit, and security — not promises.
Secure our borders: From Imeko-Afon to Ipokia, our people deserve to sleep without fear of bandits or smugglers.
Educate our youth: Not just free education, but quality education that produces coders, engineers, and agropreneurs.
Hon Dr. Oladipupo Adebutu has spoken to these issues with data and timelines. That is what “man of the soil” looks like: specific solutions, not generic soundbites.
To the Ogun State Electorate: Your Vote Is Your Boundary.
In 2027, your PVC is the fence around Ogun State. It says: “This land is not for sale.” It says: “Strangers cannot buy what our fathers died for.” It says: “We know who we are.”
Do not let anyone rewrite our story. Do not let anyone tell you that indigeneship does not matter. It matters in Kano. It matters in Anambra. It matters in Rivers. It must matter in Ogun.
Conclusion: Stand with the Son of the Soil.
Ogun State is the cradle of civilization in South-West Nigeria. We are the home of Adire, the source of Ransome-Kuti courage, the land of Awujale, Alake, Akarigbo, and Olu of Ilaro. We are not perfect, but we are proud.
We will not hand that heritage to the highest bidder. We will not be governed by remote control.
Senator Olamilekan Solomon (Yayi )is not from Ogun State and cannot take over Ogun State as the next governor. Hon. Dr. Oladipupo Adebutu is the man of the soil and the right man for the job.
Ogun State is not for sale.
Writes: Danyiwo Femmy David. Strategy and Media Director to Hon Ahmed Muiz Oladimeji(AMO) MBA,B TECH Abeokuta North Local Government Constituency.
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