Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
A former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, has decried what he described as decades of deliberate neglect of Ogun State's border communities, warning that the people living in these areas have been abandoned by successive administrations despite contributing enormously to the state's economy and national trade.
Adebutu, who spoke on Thursday during a tour of border communities in Ogun West and Ogun Central senatorial districts, said the neglect was visible in the state of roads, schools, healthcare facilities and security infrastructure in towns and villages along the state's borders with Lagos, Oyo, Osun and the neighbouring Republic of Benin. According to him, the pattern of abandonment had persisted through multiple administrations, leaving residents to fend for themselves in areas where government presence was almost non-existent. "You can travel through these communities and wonder whether you are still in Ogun State or in another country," he said. "There are roads that have been abandoned for over twenty years. There are schools where children sit on the floor. There are health centres that have no drugs, no staff and no equipment. These are Nigerians, and they deserve better."
The tour took Adebutu through communities in Imeko-Afon, Ipokia, Yewa North and Yewa South, as well as parts of Abeokuta North and Odeda, where he held consultations with traditional rulers, community leaders, market women, artisans and youth groups. At each stop, he listened to complaints about the condition of roads, the absence of potable water, the poor state of primary healthcare centres and the scarcity of teachers in public schools. He said the concerns he heard were consistent and reflected a broader failure of governance that cut across party lines. "This is not about PDP or APC. It is about the people. The people of these communities have been failed by everyone who has held power in this state," he said.
At Imeko-Afon, Adebutu said the poor state of roads linking the community to Abeokuta and neighbouring states was both an economic and security concern. He noted that the area's location along an international border exposed it to cross-border crime and smuggling, and that the absence of motorable roads and functional security outposts left residents vulnerable. He promised that, if given the mandate in 2027, his administration would prioritise the construction and rehabilitation of border roads, establish functional security posts in collaboration with federal agencies and invest in border infrastructure that would facilitate legitimate trade while curbing criminal activity. "Border communities should be gateways, not dumping grounds for neglect," he said.
In Ipokia and Yewa, Adebutu addressed the state of education and healthcare. He said many primary schools in the area lacked basic infrastructure, including roofs, desks, toilets and boreholes, and that teachers were frequently absent or unwilling to accept postings to the border areas because of poor living conditions. He also said primary healthcare centres were understaffed and under-equipped, contributing to preventable maternal and child deaths. He promised to improve working conditions for teachers and health workers in rural areas, including the provision of staff quarters, and to upgrade health facilities in the border communities to ensure they could handle basic obstetric and paediatric cases.
Adebutu's tour also touched on agriculture and youth employment. He said the border communities were rich in agricultural potential but that farmers struggled with poor access roads, inadequate storage facilities and limited access to markets. He promised to establish a border community development fund, revive abandoned farm settlements and support cooperatives with inputs and credit facilities. He also promised to create a youth skills acquisition programme targeted at the border areas, where unemployment was high and young people were at risk of being recruited into smuggling and other illegal activities. "If we do not give our young people options, others will give them opportunities that destroy their futures," he said.
Traditional rulers who received Adebutu in several communities expressed their frustration at what they described as years of unfulfilled promises. The Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Olanite, said the community had been promised a federal road linking it to Abeokuta for over a decade, but that nothing had materialised. He said the poor state of the road had affected trade and security in the area, and called on the government to act. "We have waited too long. Our people are tired of promises," he said. Similar sentiments were expressed by traditional rulers in Ipokia and Yewa, who said the communities had been left to cope with the consequences of cross-border crime without adequate support from either the state or federal government.
The visit comes amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the governorship and state assembly elections scheduled for February 6, 2027, and the presidential and National Assembly polls on January 16. Adebutu, who contested the 2023 governorship election and is widely expected to seek the PDP's ticket again for 2027, has been touring the state to assess the condition of communities and build support for his campaign. His message has focused on grassroots development, infrastructure renewal and youth empowerment, and he has consistently criticised the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun over what he describes as failure to meet the expectations of Ogun residents.
Political analysts note that the border communities of Ogun State, particularly in Ogun West, have historically been marginalised in state politics and that their votes could prove decisive in a close election. The region, which includes Yewa and Awori communities, has long complained of political exclusion and underdevelopment, despite producing a substantial share of the state's agricultural output and tax revenue. Adebutu's decision to focus attention on these communities signals an attempt to consolidate support in an area where his party has performed competitively in past elections, and where dissatisfaction with the ruling party could be exploited to his advantage.
Adebutu also used the occasion to respond to critics who have accused him of making promises he cannot fulfil. He said his plans were not mere rhetoric but were backed by an audit of the state's finances and a detailed costed programme for infrastructure, education, health and youth development. He said his administration, if elected, would publish a quarterly report on project implementation so that citizens could hold his government accountable. "I am not asking for blind trust. I am asking for the opportunity to be judged by results," he said.
For the people of Imeko-Afon, Ipokia, Yewa and other border communities, the visit represented a rare moment of political attention. Many residents said they had not seen a senior politician in their communities in years and expressed cautious optimism that Adebutu's promises would materialise. Others were more sceptical, noting that similar promises had been made by previous administrations and had come to nothing. "We have heard this before. We will believe it when we see the roads," said one resident, who asked not to be named.
The coming months will determine whether Adebutu's message resonates at the polls and whether the border communities become a decisive factor in the 2027 contest. For now, the tour has placed the neglect of these communities on the political agenda, and Adebutu has staked his credibility on the promise of tangible change. As he put it, the people of Ogun's border communities deserve more than sympathy; they deserve action.
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