Adeola Adeyemi has given a first-hand account of what transpired during the visit of PDP governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, to the Yewa Traditional Council, saying the meeting reaffirmed the Council’s firm backing for the Ogun West Agenda ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Adeyemi, in a personal statement, said he was present at the engagement and decided to speak out to correct what he described as “false accounts circulating online” about the visit to the Asade Agunloye Pavilion.
According to him, Hon. Adebutu arrived at the Pavilion at exactly 12:45 p.m. to meet the Yewa Obas already seated.
“One would ordinarily expect a seasoned politician and an Omoluabi to be mindful of palace etiquette. However, he remained standing throughout his greetings to the royal fathers, extending handshakes while still wearing his cap, a conduct inconsistent with the decorum traditionally observed before Yoruba monarchs,” Adeyemi stated.
At 1:14 p.m., Adebutu was invited to address the Council. He spoke for about 14 minutes, emphasizing his constitutional right to contest and insisting his ambition was not to deny Ogun West the governorship. Adeyemi noted that a significant part of the address dwelt on Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, YAYI, rather than on a detailed policy roadmap.
Adeyemi said Adebutu later requested the microphone again, after which three members of his delegation also addressed the Council.
The PDP candidate, he alleged, appealed to the Paramount Ruler, Oba (Dr.) Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, to “support and package” him, adding that if that happened, “his father (Odole) will begin using shovel to pack money to give Kabiyesi, instead of the little he currently counts to give him”.
Adebutu was also said to have introduced what he called a “sitting allowance,” stating in Yoruba: _“Mo mu owó ìjókòó wá. Ṣé ẹ gba? Àbí ẹni tí ẹ gba, kí ẹ fi kún ti bẹ́ẹ̀ náà?”_
Translated: “I have brought a sitting allowance. Will you accept it, or should you add it to the one you have already collected?”
Adeyemi wrote that the remark raised concerns in the hall. “If the money was a voluntary gift that had not been requested, why attach such a condition or present the offer in a manner that could ridicule the kings? Also, what previous payment was he implying the Council had already received?”
Responding on behalf of the Yewa Traditional Council, Oba Olugbenle welcomed Adebutu and his entourage, stressing that the Council remains a father to all and will receive every aspirant with fairness.
However, the Paramount Ruler restated the collective position of Ogun West on the 2027 governorship. He said the demand is based on justice, equity and fairness, noting that since Ogun State’s creation in 1976, Ogun West has never produced a democratically elected governor despite its contributions to the state.
“After five decades, the district deserves the opportunity to lead the affairs of the state,” Oba Olugbenle was quoted as saying. He added that while every aspirant has a constitutional right to contest, the aspiration of Ogun West to produce the next governor is a legitimate cause that deserves support.
The Council declared it “stands firmly behind the Ogun West Agenda,” saying 2027 should mark the end of the long-standing political imbalance in Ogun State.
On the issue of financial inducement, Oba Olugbenle made it clear the royal fathers received Adebutu “purely out of goodwill, not hunger,” and would not accept any money. “If Hon. Adebutu chose to visit again, he would still be received with the same courtesy and respect,” the monarch said.
Adeyemi faulted online reports claiming the Yewa Obas walked out on Adebutu.
“Contrary to reports claiming that the Yewa Obas walked out on Hon. Adebutu, what actually transpired was that Hon. Adebutu and his entourage left the venue first and proceeded to Tetede Hall, after the Council had rejected the proposed financial gesture and unequivocally reaffirmed its support for the Ogun West Agenda,” he stated.
He added that as they departed, members of the PDP entourage were heard singing _“Ẹṣe rere, ko dara…”_
He further noted that the Council’s position was unanimous and in line with months of consultations by Ogun West traditional rulers on the governorship quest. After the meeting, the royal fathers proceeded to the Palace of the Paramount Ruler for further discussions.
Adeyemi observed that much of Adebutu’s presentation referenced Senator Yayi.
“My humble advice is that future engagements should focus more on issues that directly affect the people and the solutions he intends to offer. Elections are won by selling one’s own ideas and competence, not by making another candidate the recurring subject of one’s campaign,” he said.
He also questioned why no official recording or statement was released by Adebutu’s media team after the meeting, while coverage emerged only from the subsequent Tetede engagement.
Concluding, Adeyemi commended the Yewa Traditional Council for its maturity, saying many sons and daughters of Yewaland have applauded the stance as “a courageous affirmation of the long-standing quest for justice and fair representation”.
“The facts matter. Political preferences may differ, but history should not be rewritten to suit partisan narratives. Above every individual ambition stands the collective aspiration of a people. The events of that day reaffirmed one undeniable reality: to the Yewa Traditional Council and the people of Ogun West, the Ogun West Agenda is sacrosanct” Adeola Adeyemi asserted