Ladi Adebutu, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2023 elections in Ogun State, has revealed why he lost to Gov Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on Thursday, the PDP chieftain said the hoodlums allegedly sponsored by the ruling party went away with the act because he did not allow his supporters to repay violence with violence.
Adebutu spoke at Ijeun-Akoni, a remote community in Odeda Local Government Area of the state, during the 92 years remembrance of his great-grandfather, Pa Alimi Adebutu.
Pa Adebutu died and was buried in the community in 1932.
Speaking with newsmen after the prayer session, the former governorship candidate said he believes in life after death, and as such, he will not play politics of desperation and violence.
“I believe in life after death, that is me. That is why you will see in the kind of politics that I play. You will never see violence, you will never see desperation,” he said.
“One reason why 99 polling booths in the last elections were destroyed was because I refused that my people should repay violence with violence. I cannot be part of the process of spilling blood. I can’t. This is because I believe life continues after death. I am always being careful,” Adebutu said.
He said Pa Adebutu, a trader and agriculturist, lived, died and was buried in the community as against his hometown because of his good deeds and contribution to the development of the community.
“It’s good to be good. After 92 years, these people have not forgotten him. They spoke glowingly of him. When he died, they refused that his corpse should be taken home because the man served the community well. When you do well, your legacy lingers,” he said.
The APC spokesperson in the state, Tunde Oldunjoye has however said that Adebutu is campaigning after election.
“Let him be campaigning after election. The public knew those who engaged in violence and other criminalities. they are not that forgetful,” Oladunjoye said.
“Adebutu should concentrate on his ongoing trial for vote buying.
“He has traced his great/grandfather to Odeda? Very funny. We have no response to make, this man is looking for cheap popularity; he has already commenced campaigning for the 2027 election in April of 2024.”
