Adebutu, who visited the Oloje traditionalist community in Abeokuta alongside members of his political team, said his administration, if elected, would ensure accountability, peace and responsible management of public resources.
Addressing the gathering, Adebutu promised that council funds under his administration would be properly accounted for.
Adebutu said he was a devoted Christian but recognised the important role played by traditional institutions in maintaining peace, unity and harmony in communities.
He stated that his administration would ensure that local government funds were released to the councils for effective rural development.
Speaking at the gathering, the PDP candidate for the House of Representatives, Toyin Amuzu, urged residents to vote for the PDP at all levels, claiming that the party had demonstrated commitment to the development of Abeokuta and Ogun State.
Amuzu cited the provision of a transformer to the community as one of the interventions he said had been facilitated by members of the PDP, while also criticising what he described as inadequate attention to electricity challenges in some parts of Abeokuta.
He said, “Someone who can extend a hand of fellowship to you will continue to extend it to you. Someone who cannot extend their hand to you will not give you anything. Please, let us vote for the PDP.”
Amuzu further appealed to voters not to be swayed by money allegedly distributed during elections, urging them to consider the long-term consequences of their choices.
“Do not let them give us money on election day and ask us to go cook soup, only for us to suffer for another four years. We will not suffer anymore, by God’s grace,” he said.
Also speaking, the Akinfiwatolu of Egbaland Chief Mustapha Owolabi urged the traditionalist and residents to support what he described as a new political movement aimed at securing greater representation for Egbaland.
Mustapha appealed to the people to reject what he called political manipulation and insisted that Egba interests should be protected in the 2027 political dispensation.
“Collect their money and vote for LadiAdebutu,” he told the gathering, urging residents to vote according to their conscience.
He argued that Ogun people should be allowed to determine who governs the state, stressing that the government must reflect the aspirations, interests and identity of its people.
Meanwhile, one of the traditional elders, Olawale Akanbi, Ọmọlẹ́gbẹ́ said the traditionalists received Adebutu to offer him prayers and blessings ahead of his political journey.
Akanbi said the ballot remained the major instrument available to the people to determine who would govern them, expressing confidence that Adebutu would emerge victorious.
He said, “The reason we received him as a guest is that we the “Oloje” want to offer him our prayers and blessings, so that the prayers will be answered and he may reach his destination.”
Another elder, Chief Gbenga Adesina, Ojediran Fajegbinro, described the visit as an important recognition of traditional religion practitioners as stakeholders in the society.
Adesina said the traditionalists were pleased that Adebutu had visited them after engaging with other religious groups, including Christians and Muslims.
According to him, “They met with the Pastors, and they met with the Imams. And they also recognised the practitioners of the Isese religion. All of us together make up the community.”
He further declared his support for Adebutu, saying, “It is whoever comes to seek us out that we will support. Honourable Ladi Adebutu came to meet us right now, so he is the one we see. All our votes, he is the one we will cast them for.”
