From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The former gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, has disclosed why he was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS), Ogun State command.
He was invited and subsequently detained on Monday night in connection with his alleged involvement in some security breaches in the last local government election held in the state on Saturday.
The former lawmaker who was released at about 7am, yesterday, however, disclosed that he was detained as part of the ploys to silence him as a voice of the opposition.
Adebutu, in a statement yesterday, said he was not deterred by the detention, rather, the experience has strengthened his resolve to see an independent local government, through financial autonomy.
He said the allegations of violence leveled against were baseless, insisting that the LG election held last Saturday was not free and fair.
“My thinking that the Local Government should have financial Autonomy that can only be enforced by free and fair elections is germane to our development. Mr President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, shares the same view as mine which shows it is not a partisan position but a nationalistic one. “However, because of the particular situation of Ogun State over the last five years which I shall publish shortly, desperation has set in to emasculate the third tier of government completely, this is the struggle for our development.
“I seize this opportunity to appreciate our institutions as they gradually continue to grow, I must say I am pleasantly surprised at the professionalism and fairness the Department of State Services has treated this matter till date particularly, during my stay in their office.
“I also acknowledge the judiciary for the forthright judgment we were able to obtain from the Ogun State High Court on Friday, 15th November, 2024 in suit AB/784/2024, a suit filed for the purpose of excluding the Peoples Democratic Party from participating in the Local Government elections. I thank all stakeholders , well wishers and for that matter non-well wishers because together, we must move the narration forward and arrive at good governance,” he said.