Gift Barry-ObaThe Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Hon. Sikirullai Ogundele, has accused Hon. Ladi Adebutu, the party’s governorship candidate, of being responsible for the party’s failure in the 2019 and 2023 elections.
Ogundele explained that Adebutu’s haughtiness and disdain for the party leadership was the reason the party is not in power.
He made the allegations while addressing members and leaders of the party during a meeting held ahead of the party congress in Abeokuta.
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He said, “The reason why we are not in power today is because of Hon. Ladi Adebutu. 90 percent of the reason why we are not in government today was caused by Hon. Ladies Adebutu and this is because of his high-handedness, he does not listen to anybody’s advice.
“Adebutu has been the major reason why the party has been failing since 2019 election. I don’t think Adebutu himself is interested in becoming the governor.
“Atiku came to Abeokuta twice to plead with Adebutu that we should put OGD (former governor Gbenga Daniel) on the ballot, but he refused. If we had put OGD (Daniel) on the ballot, the party would have won many seats at the election.
“Everybody was aware that Atiku came to Ogun state twice to beg him (Adebutu). Obasanjo too begged him, but he refused to shift ground.”
He also blamed the crisis within the party to those he described as money bags who pocket the party structure with their funds.
Ogundele said, for the party must win the 2027 election, it must be rescued from the grips of money bags who have hijacked the control and structure of the party.
His words: “PDP is not anybody’s personal business, every member of the party has the right to join the party, everyone has the right to aspire for any position.
“PDP in Ogun State must not be in the pocket of any individual. This political party is not somebody’s private business, it must be seen as a political party, that is why you see some of those that are aggrieved among us today.
Also speaking, the deputy governorship candidate of the party at the 2023 election, Adekunle Akinlade said, the party must be better repositioned to defeat the ruling party in 2027.
“What we are saying is that, if we must win or perform differently in 2027, we must reposition this party, we must bring in everybody to this party, we must make everybody feel comfortable that this party is for all of us.
“We must put the past behind us, we must put 2023 behind us and forge a strong front that can give the opportunity to face whatever the future holds.
“The party must be more disciplined and our leaders must have the right temperament and good character”, Akinlade said.
Responding, Afolabi Orekoya , the director of media, Ladi Adebutu Development Organization urged the public to ignore the party chairman adding that his words should not be taken serious.
โ Hon. Sikirulah Ogundele is on his own, we don’t want to join issues with him. Every Ogun residents knew what happens, Is he saying that what happens in Sagamu, and other zone of the State are what was created by Hon Adebutu? We have more than 53 State Exco members, the meeting he said he has today, only him was there out of all other executives. So he should not be taken serious. We are not joining issues with him at all.
